Very Japanese: being formal

The Japanese habit of exchanging ‘meishi’ is well known. Business cards are essential equipment for businessmen to get in contact. This has also to do with the fact that there are many cases of Japanese names with the same pronunciation being written using different kanji characters. If you introduce yourself verbally only you have to explain the characters used to write your name. Exchanging business cards is easier and the etiquette going with the exchange is a nice way of formal introduction. Japanese can be very formal. Even one subway conductor taking over from another goes with a formal ritual.