Combine Japanese business etiquette and humor and the joke may just be on you.
What is the best way to get the audience on your side at a presentation? Maybe a few light anecdotes at the beginning to get people laughing, what do you think?
An American was delivering his first speech in Japan and he began with a joke. When the interpreter finished, everyone laughed and he was clearly pleased. Unfortunately, what the interpreter had said was: ‘This American has just told a joke that is very culturally bound. Would you all therefore please laugh now?’