Brazil & Japan

Working Hours

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Brazil spans 4 time zones but major business centers (São Paulo, Rio) are on Brasília Time (BRT). Work culture is relationship-driven with flexible scheduling.

Lunch Break

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

1-2 hours, often a substantial meal

Business Etiquette

• •Personal relationships are crucial—Brazilians prefer doing business with people they know and like
• •Physical contact (handshakes, pats on back) is common and friendly
• •Punctuality is appreciated but flexibility is understood
• •Dress code is generally formal in business settings
• •Negotiations may take time; patience is valued

Major Holidays

• Carnival — February/March (varies, 4-5 days)
• Independence Day — September 7
• Christmas-New Year — December 24 - January 1
• Tiradentes Day — April 21
• Republic Day — November 15

Communication Style

Warm, expressive, and personal. Brazilians use animated gestures and value emotional connection in business relationships.

Meeting Culture

Meetings often include coffee and may start with personal conversation. Building trust is essential. Follow-ups may require persistence.

Working Hours

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Japan has a strong work ethic; overtime is common but increasingly discouraged. "Core hours" (10 AM - 3 PM) are when meetings are scheduled.

Lunch Break

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

60 minutes, strictly observed

Business Etiquette

• •Punctuality is crucial—arrive 5 minutes early
• •Business cards (meishi) are exchanged formally with both hands
• •Hierarchy is important; defer to senior colleagues
• •Silence during conversations is normal and not awkward
• •Group consensus (nemawashi) is valued over individual decisions

Major Holidays

• Golden Week — Late April - Early May (multiple holidays)
• Obon — Mid-August (varies by region)
• New Year (Shogatsu) — December 29 - January 3
• Silver Week — Mid-September (varies)
• Emperor's Birthday — February 23

Communication Style

Indirect and context-heavy. Japanese communication often relies on reading the atmosphere (kuuki wo yomu). Explicit "no" is rarely stated.

Meeting Culture

Meetings are formal and structured. Presentations are detailed. Questions may be asked afterwards rather than during. Follow-up via email is common.