The Foreign Founder's Guide to Business Cards in Japan

Japan runs on business cards. This is not an exaggeration — the meishi (名刺) exchange is a formalised ritual that opens professional relationships, communicates status, and signals respect. As a foreign founder, getting your card right is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your first weeks in Japan.

The Meishi Exchange Ritual

The mechanics first, because getting them wrong creates an awkward first impression:

• Present your card with both hands, text facing the recipient
• Receive the other person's card with both hands
• Look at it — actually look at it. Read the name, note the title and company
• Place it carefully on the table in front of you during the meeting, or in a card holder — never your back pocket
• Do not write on it during the meeting

What Your Card Should Contain

English side (front):

• Your full name
• Your title (use something that translates — "Founder & CEO", "Representative Director", "Managing Director")
• Company name
• Phone number (include +81 country code)
• Email address
• Website

Japanese side (back):

• All of the above, translated
• Your company name in Japanese script if registered in Japan
• Your job title in Japanese

We recommend having your Japanese side reviewed by a native speaker — machine translation of job titles often produces technically correct but unnatural Japanese.

Quantity

Order more than you think you need. Japanese networking events, trade shows, and introductory meetings can consume 20–30 cards in a single day. We recommend 500 as a starting quantity for a new founder.

Format and Finish

Standard Japanese meishi size: 91 × 55 mm. Use this size.

For finish, we recommend 400gsm silk with soft-touch lamination as a minimum. Thin cards read as budget. If you are positioning yourself in a premium market, consider spot UV on your logo.

Lead Time

Standard business cards: 2–3 business days from proof approval. Rush same-day print available on request. Order through our website, or message us on WhatsApp for a quick quote.