Japanese Etiquette Question

[rain_gryphon]

At the little Japanese supermarket here where I sometimes shop, the clerk makes a major display of taking my card in both hands as he bows, then handing it back with another bow and both hands after he's swiped it. Am I expected to handle the card the same way (both hands) as I give and receive it, and should I bow? Does anyone know?


EDIT: Answered offlist (give and receive the card with both hands). Thanks anyway!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fluffy/]

All cards are like that, incidentally, including business cards (meishi). Business card etiquette is a pretty fascinating thing to learn about, too.

When you're meeting a lot of people you're expected to exchange business cards with all of them, with the two-handed acceptance and bow, and you're supposed to make mention of some aspect of their card so as to demonstrate that you have read it. Then you are to set them out on the table arranged in order of how they are sitting at the table (so that you can properly learn to associate the card with the person). And you are not, in any circumstance, to deface the card or to place it in your back pocket, as the card is a proxy for the self and doing such things to the card is as bad as if you had done it to the person.

That said, most Japanese people understand that Americans are much more casual with it, and while the clerk had that ingrained to him his whole life, he's probably fine with you not playing along (although it'd probably make his day if you did).

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fluffy/]

(seriously we had to TAKE A CLASS ON THIS at Sony)

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Then you are to set them out on the table arranged in order of how they are sitting at the table (so that you can properly learn to associate the card with the person).

Oddly enough, that I've always done anyway, just as a practical matter so I don't forget who's who.