"While I can't imagine many of you are going to be heading back to situations after you graduate where you'll be performing serious business ventures in Japan, today's class is going to focus on Japanese business etiquette, like it or not," Algren announced as the students made their way into the classroom. Instead of the cushion setup today, there was a table, set with enough seats for the students in the class. Algren was seated at the head of the table, farthest from the door, with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Before you pull up a chair, I'd like to note that in Japan, you wouldn't just be grabbing whichever seat is most convenient for you. Seating is based on hierarchy, and as the guest, it would be more appropriate for you to wait to be shown to your seat," he explained. "For simplicity's sake, today we'll just seat you by grade. Ino, you get to sit beside me as my TA. From there, I'd like the seniors to sit closest, working down the classes until the freshmen are seated by the door."

Did he even have any freshmen in his class? He was fairly certain that he actually didn't. Ah well.

"It's good manners to wait for the one in charge to tell you to take your seats- and yes, you may be seated- and to wait for him or her to stand first, come the end of the meeting, before you do the same. Drinks will probably be served during the meeting. Non-alcoholic ones. If you would be so kind as to pour coffee or tea for your classmates, Miss Yamanaka?"

Algren waited politely for a moment while his TA went around the table to do just that. He apparently was paying her for this TA job in donuts or cake or something like that, so he figured it was within his rights to get her to pour hot beverages now and then.

"Manners with these beverages are generally the same as the protocol for the rest of the meeting. Wait until the head of the table drinks before you do the same." He smiled faintly, raised his tea to his lips, and drank. There. Now the caffeine was fair game for all. "And then there are gifts. Generally, it's tradition to bring a souvenir of some sort that represents your hometown. If you get a gift in turn and it happens to be wrapped, wait until the meeting is over and you've left before opening it."

Easy stuff, wasn't it?

"Finally, you might want to consider bringing a pen and a book for taking notes. It shows that you've been paying attention, or at least have some vague sense of interest in what's being discussed, and leaves a good impression on those attending the meeting with you." He grinned at the class. "Of course, you ought to all be in good practise for note-taking already, isn't that so?"

Of course they were! They were good little, attentive students!

"Your assignment for today is simple enough. You've all got the art of sitting and standing and drinking coffee mastered by now, I'm sure, so I want you to contemplate what you might present to a business associate as a souvenir of your hometown or country. It doesn't need to be huge and elaborate, but please, do try to put some thought behind it."

[OCD coming up! The TA's assistance with your delicious coffee and tea was modded with permission.]