Business cards Tokyo

Meishi etiquette in Marunouchi and Shibuya

In Tokyo's established business districts, particularly Marunouchi around the financial and trading houses, the meishi exchange remains a formal moment: cards are presented and received with both hands, text facing the recipient, and read carefully before being placed on the table rather than pocketed immediately. A virtual meishi business card should respect this ritual. Share its QR code on your phone screen or send the link alongside the traditional paper meishi exchange, never as a substitute for it.

In Shibuya's tech and startup scene the etiquette is often followed more loosely, and founders and engineers are generally comfortable with a quick QR scan or shared link as a genuine alternative when meeting quickly at a co-working space or pitch event.

Using the scan after the exchange

The honest use case in Tokyo is this: paper meishi are exchanged formally first, and the recipient scans the QR code afterwards, at their desk or on the train home, to save the contact directly and see a fuller profile with a portfolio link or booking page. It should not be presented as a replacement for the meishi exchange in Marunouchi boardrooms, where doing so would read as a shortcut rather than a courtesy.

Tokyo Big Sight hosts many of the trade fairs where thousands of cards change hands over a few days, and a scannable card there is genuinely useful for keeping track of who you met, since a saved contact with notes is easier to follow up on than a stack of paper.

Frequently asked questions

Should I still exchange paper meishi with both hands in Tokyo?

Yes. The traditional two-handed meishi exchange remains expected in most Tokyo business settings. Share your virtual meishi business card separately, by QR code on your phone or a link, as an addition rather than a shortcut.

Is it rude to ask someone to scan my card instead of exchanging one?

In formal settings such as Marunouchi meetings, yes, it can read as a shortcut. In faster-paced Shibuya startup meetups, a scan or a shared link is generally accepted.

Are virtual meishi business cards useful at Tokyo Big Sight trade fairs?

Yes, scanning a card after the formal exchange makes it easier to save and follow up on contacts collected over a busy show.