1172b8a0f08a2684ac0739f5b79bf33d.jpg

Japanese Culture & Business Etiquette

By Diane Hasili
A new offering, Japanese Culture and Business Etiquette, is being introduced by the YWCA Princeton and promises to be fun, tasty, and educational! Participants will learn about Japanese culture, practice Japanese customs and etiquette, practice survival Japanese phrases, and experience authentic Japanese cuisine. The program will be held Friday evenings, March 25th through April 15th, from 7:00-8:30. The cost is $60.
The classes are perfect for anyone interested in Asian culture whether considering a trip to Japan, seeking to conduct business with overseas organizations, hiring Asian employees, or just to learn more about the country and its customs.
Michiko Yamashina will lead the evenings. She brings a unique perspective and is well-versed in Japanese culture and business etiquette. As a human resource officer for Japan Airlines Infotech, she trained new employees in business etiquette. And, she has taught business etiquette, academic Japanese writing, and intercultural communications at several colleges in Tokyo.
Jo-Sho Restaurant with establishments in Tokyo and on Cedar Grove Lane in Somerset, NJ, will provide tasty samples of various traditional Japanese dishes including sushi, tendon and sesame-tofu. Participants will learn the proper way to dine and a broader perspective into the diversity and depth of the Japanese culture.
The YWCA Princeton has been at the cultural forefront since its founding in 1922 providing a community place for residents to connect, play, and learn. It has a long history in providing English instruction for the foreign born and welcoming those new to area into the community. “Our multicultural English as a Second Language program has grown a lot since then. Today, our students represent 27 different languages and come from 36 countries,” states Paula Rossi, ESL Program Director. 
“It is especially gratifying to bring top-rated programs like this to the community,” said Diane Hasili, YWCA Princeton Chief Marketing Officer. “It is a natural extension to the Ikebana class we introduced in January. The response was overwhelmingly positive.” Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. In keeping with the art and balance of the culture, Japanese Culture and Business Etiquette classes were designed to embrace diversity and to create an opportunity for new connections and understanding within the community.
It was because of an increase in interest about the Asian culture by local schools, businesses, and residents that the YWCA Princeton developed the Japanese Culture and Business Etiquette course (starting March 25th). And, it is adding two Ikebana classes in the new semester (starting late April).
Early registration is encouraged as class size is limited. For more information or to learn more about the YWCA Princeton’s top-rated classes, programs, and special events, please visit www.ywcaprinceton.org or call (609) 497-2100 ext. 0.