Exchanging business cards with salarymen in Fukuoka

Plus, what to eat/drink/do during your stay.

8 May 2025 — 4 min read

Japan loves business cards.

Everyone has one and exchanging them comes with a lot of etiquette.

I was sitting at one of my favorite bars in Fukuoka last week when a few salarymen started exchanging them.

If you've never seen this ritual, it's a whole thing. And, not to patronize these grown men, but I find it adorable no matter how many times I see it.

It goes a little something like this:

Everyone exchanges cards 1-by-1, and in order of seniority
The person extending their card does so with both hands and a slight bow, ensuring the card is facing up and readable by the other person
The person accepting a card also does so with both hands and a slight bow
Cards are placed face-up on the table/bar in order of seniority, and you re-order them as needed if new people join you
You never write on the card, put it away while the person is still there, toss it down, or otherwise treat it casually

It's very deferential and polite and I think the reason I love it so much is that it's the opposite of the toxic posturing so common among men in western society. (And the tech industry I know so well).

I was also struck by how odd this exchange might look if you're not familiar with it.

I don’t consider myself an expert by any means but I recognized it immediately because I’ve been given more than a handful of business cards over the +5 months I’ve cumulatively spent in Japan.

The first one was from a bartender, and so was the second and the third. Eventually, I realized I was missing something about the whole procedure and Googled the correct response.

(Cue me, horrified, remembering every time I just said thank you and immediately put the card in my back pocket. 🙈)

But I digress…

I ended up sharing a drink with these guys after they finished their meeting, and it was one of those moments that made me think about just how many people I’ve met because I got comfortable sitting at a bar by myself.

I used to find it terrifying! And now, it’s one of the things I look forward to most in a new place: cozying up to a bar I’ve scoped out online, ordering a drink that sounds like it’s going to hit the spot, putting my phone face down on the bar… and then just waiting.

I’ve made so many friends, even more memories, and collected more recommendations than I’ll ever be able to use myself from a bar stool. And more than anything, I’ve learned so much about the places I’ve traveled to from these conversations.

And, yes, at the end of the night, the guys each gave me their business card. :)

Fukuoka

Fukuoka is a mid-sized city on the northwest coast of Japan. It’s a bit warmer, a bit more relaxed, and definitely less crowded. It’s also considered the gateway to mainland Asia so most of the tourists are Korean.

This was my second time visiting Fukuoka, and I still love it… but I also don’t recommend it to most people.

The “golden triangle” of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto is classic for a reason and absolutely how most people should spend their first trip to Japan. But for people who have a bit more time, Fukuoka is worth considering!

I’m sharing my annotated Google Map below because I feel like it gives a taste of what there is to eat/see/do in the city.

Highlights include tonkotsu ramen, contemporary Asian art, a great park, and easy access to the rest of Kyūshū…

My annotated Google Map

Where to Drink in Fukuoka

The bar scene in Fukuoka is not particularly memorable as a whole, but it does happen to have two of my favorites…

Bar Oscar: An “authentic bar” in all the best ways—dark and cozy, quiet murmuring over light jazz, and a casual but classy feel. The owner/bartender is something of a legend, and it’s easy to see why when you see the precision with which he serves up original cocktails based on your tastes. (Also, if you go to this bar, you have to send me a selfie with Nagatomo-san. Those are just the rules. 💁🏻‍♀️)

Bar Ebichan: Yatais are street food stalls common in Fukuoka, and this one happens to be a six-seat bar that the husband and wife team set up and break down every day. (Which is even more impressive when you see the amount of stuff they have squeezed into the small space.) They have a cute illustrated menu of fruits—pick one, share your favorite spirit, and get a custom cocktail in return.

Where to Drink in Japan