Thousands of years of events have shaped one of the most fascinating cultures in the world, which is still filled with essences of the past today. Japanese culture as we see it today retains characteristics from centuries ago. Geishas and distinct Japanese tradition are still as valuable, if not more so, to Japanese culture today. Japan's unique history and culture have created a place where many dream of going. This essay will identify the characteristics of Japanese culture and provide a brief overview of the cultural traits that make Japan so different from other cultures. Additionally, aspects of communication and the implications they may have on business practices will be identified and explained. Definition of Culture According to Geert Hofstede (1983, p. 76), culture can be explained as the "collective programming of the mind" and it influences the way people think and how they act in different situations. This distinguishes members of one group or category from another. He argued that people are mentally programmed and that this influences their lifestyles, attitudes and norms as well as their membership in particular groups (Hofstede 1983, p. 76). Another definition of culture is that it explains the different way people from different populations perceive values, norms, attitudes, and roles in society. By understanding the differences that separate one culture from another and gaining knowledge about how cultures operate on a daily basis, conflicts and misunderstandings can easily be avoided (He & Liu 2010, p. 2). Cultural Characteristics of Traditional Japan More than 125 million Today, Japanese is spoken all over the world. The linguistic characteristics of a language are determined by...... middle of paper ......andings. It is also important to adhere to Japanese tradition and recognize their special way of doing things. A willingness to learn about the cultural aspects of another country can foster relationship building and improve the success rate of doing business in a Japanese environment (Hill, Cronk, and Wickramasekera 2011, p. 555). Japanese culture has distinct characteristics that differentiate it from any other culture. This essay provided typical examples of Japanese culture and tradition by explaining the concept of Geisha, Japanese cuisine, manga as well as the political and economic factors that helped shape the environment of today's Japan today. To conclude, this essay presents Hofstede and Hall's theories on intercultural communication and its implications. These theories have been used to identify cultural differences in the remarkable culture that is Japan..