Join the JASP for a session combining lectures, discussions, and group exercises to gain essential knowledge, skills, and practical cultural tips and greetings for smooth and successful interactions with Japanese counterparts in this day-long training session. From an introduction into Japanese history to how to best plan your next business trip to Japan, this session targets North Americans working with or planning to work with Japanese in the future. Bento lunches will be provided for hands-on practice of table manners.

Andrew Bender, Senior Consultant at Japan Intercultural Consulting, will lead the session.  Andrew has worked with Japanese firms since the mid-1980s. He began his career in the Investment Advisory Department of JAFCO, Japan’s largest venture capital company and then part of the Nomura Securities Group. Later he worked in development, production, and acquisitions of filmed entertainment for Fujisankei Communications in Los Angeles. He also headed up the U.S. operations of a Japanese-owned animation and computer graphics house.

Since joining Japan Intercultural Consulting in 2001, Andrew has counseled clients in industries as diverse as manufacturing, management consulting and entertainment. Seminar participants often comment on his conversational, open style, whether in English or Japanese, animated with his own experience and others’.