[Draft] USJC NY & Vicinity Region | Japanese Business Practice 101: A Practical (and Slightly Humorous!) Guide
Date: July 30, 2025 (Wednesday)
Location: New York, NY (in-person)
In-Person: 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. ET
Live Stream: 7 p.m.-8 p.m. ET
Registration: Limited capacity for in-person attendance. If you are interested in registering for this event, please email us at [email protected].
In this session, Misako will demystify essential aspects of Japanese business etiquette and practice, weaving in personal anecdotes, as a working professional and an active member of the diplomatic corps in Japan, to offer a lively and relatable perspective. Topics will include proper seating etiquette in taxis, meeting rooms, and elevators, greeting manners and dress code, and a few bonus survival tips for navigating the subtle yet crucial nuances of Japanese business culture.
Rather than a rigid rulebook, this presentation offers a “what I wish I had known” guide, packed with real-life missteps and memorable lessons learned firsthand. With the understanding that cultural sensitivity and a good sense of humor go hand in hand, attendees will leave with practical knowledge — and, having had a few laughs, we hope — about how to make a polished and respectful impression in the Japanese business world.
Featured Speaker
Misako is currently the PR and Marketing Director at KCFA, a boutique education agency based in Tokyo that specializes in supporting students seeking personalized study abroad experiences. At KCFA, she leads strategic communications, branding, and outreach initiatives, helping to connect students and families with top educational institutions around the world. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hiroshima, Misako completed her bachelor’s degree in economics at Stanford University and obtained her master’s degree in liberal studies from Columbia University. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Japan Stanford Association.
After college, Misako worked as a Certified Public Accountant in the U.S. for a number of years. Upon returning to Tokyo in 2013, Misako assumed the position of Executive Director at the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, supporting the promotion of Australian and New Zealand businesses operating in Japan. From 2015 to 2025, she served as Director of Education – Japan at Education New Zealand, based at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo, managing study abroad promotion activities and educational exchanges between New Zealand and Japan.
Misako is the spouse of the New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, Hamish Cooper, and has been actively involved in the diplomatic community in Tokyo. Misako and Hamish are also keeping busy raising their two-year-old son.