Japanese clients will not expect a visiting host to know every custom. They will notice whether you look after your guests. The points below are the ones that come up at almost every business evening, whether at dinner or at a club afterwards.

Seating

The seat of honour (kamiza) is the one furthest from the door, often with its back to the wall or facing the room. The most senior guest sits there. The host and the most junior people sit nearest the door (shimoza), where they can speak to staff and order.

At a club, staff will usually guide the most senior guest to the best seat. As host, let them, and take the seat nearest the aisle yourself.

The toast

Nobody drinks until everyone has a glass and the toast, kanpai, has been made. The host or the most senior person usually proposes it. When you touch glasses with someone more senior, hold your glass slightly lower than theirs.

Pouring

In Japan, people pour for each other rather than for themselves. Watch your guests’ glasses and offer to top them up. When someone pours for you, lift your glass slightly towards them. At a club, the hostesses usually make and pour the drinks, but the custom of looking after your guests still applies.

Conversation and the hostesses

At a club or lounge, the hostesses’ role is conversation and hospitality. Their job includes keeping senior guests engaged and making the host look good. Treat them as professionals. Avoid asking for personal contact details on behalf of your guests, and do not touch staff.

Leaving

The host usually signals the end of the evening. Senior guests leave first, and the host sees them to a taxi. A short message of thanks the next morning is appreciated.

Receipts and expenses

Japanese venues issue two kinds of paper after payment:

• An itemised bill or till receipt (レシート, reshīto), listing what was ordered.
• A formal receipt (領収書, ryōshūsho), used for expense claims. It shows the amount, the date, the venue’s name and seal, the name of the payer and a short description of what was paid for.

To get a formal receipt, ask: “Ryōshūsho o onegaishimasu” (A formal receipt, please). Staff will ask whose name to write. Give your company name, written clearly on paper if it is in English. The description line is usually written as o-inshoku-dai (food and drinks).

Ask for both documents. Your company’s expense rules, not Japanese practice, decide whether entertainment at a club is reimbursable and what evidence you need, so check those rules before the evening.

Before the evening

Read the planning guide for booking and payment, and use the bill estimator with the venue’s prices to agree a budget in advance.