The reason I wore the Chinese Dress on Business Dinner with Clients.

I have worn ethnic dress when dining with
important clients-such as big company’s presidents.

Actually I did it twice. Both Chinese dress
and Indian Saree were selected by my boss’s wive.

There were not many who have business trips
abroad from the company, and most people enjoyed I guess. Clients, bosses,
local staff, all looked happy.

But a week later, one of the Japanese boss
who live in China told me that “maybe they take it joke so do not do it again.”

Of course it was not for elder men, for the
god’ sake, since half of Chinese presidents are women.

But in Japan Chinese dress make you imagine
“Hostess bar”, and I did not fully understand if it was different in China. If
so, or if one of the clients know the implication in Japan, they would not take
me doing serious business woman. I think I was not careful enough to research
it.

My purpose is same as eating the ethnic
food at business dinner. Even if you never try it , you show your curiosity and
try to eat together. You do not have to continue it if you do not like it or
feel strange about it. The attitude of “I am accepting, at least I am trying to
see what you eat, what you wear.” is very important , when building the
relationship, especially if you are at their home. The client receive the
attitude as message “I am with you, we are in the same direction (in business)”.

Well of course the other reason I wore is
that I just like ethnic clothing.

It is usually much with the nature of the
land and show the beauty of the nation.

But I am suggesting you to use ethnic dress
more for business.I am not saying about wearing Yukata, but wearing your
counterpart’s dress.

That is actually why I have asked embassies
to get ready ethnic dress for LunchTrip. The most recent LunchTrip was at
Tanzanian Embassy, and they collected 50 for us. Everybody looked shy at first
but happy soon after. More over, I would not forget the glitter eyes of the
ambassador and embassy staff.