泛联合国系统的职员出差之前要向联合国的安全协调机构报批，确认没有安全问题才核准。你别以为只有去阿富汗、伊拉克、肯尼亚才有这个问题，即便是去日本也要公事公办，比如这一阵子“毒饺子”新闻在日本闹得甚嚣尘上，谈“饺”色变，到那么危险的地方出差自然要好自为之。

除此之外，联合国安全机构还负责提供一些General Cultural Tips（一般性文化注意事项）和Business Cultural Tips（商务文化注意事项），要求出差的联合国官员入乡随俗，不要在无意中伤害了当地百姓和商人的感情。那么，在联合国看来，去日本有哪些要注意的文化差别呢？ 

“一般性文化注意事项”有6项： 

1） When entering a Japanese home, it is customary to remove shoes and position them facing the door. Follow your host's example （进日本人家里的时候，一般来说要脱鞋，将鞋尖对着门口的方向，可模仿主人的动作）.

2） Most Japanese people avoid direct eye contact during conversations（大部分日本人在谈话间避免与对方目光对视）. 

3）If using chopsticks, avoid using them to point at someone and do not leave them sticking up in a bowl of rice（使用筷子吃饭时，不要用筷子指人，也不要把筷子插在米饭碗里）. 

4）Only ask people about their spouse or children if you are sure your conversational partner is married/has children. Asking unmarried people about a spouse or childless people about children may embarrass a Japanese person（在于日本人交谈时，只有你肯定对方已经结婚并有孩子的情况下才可问及对方的配偶和孩子。如果向没有结婚或没有生育的人问侯配偶和孩子会让日本人感到尴尬）.  

5）It is customary to bring chocolate, cookies or cakes when invited to a Japanese home. Purchasing them in a department store where they will be wrapped is recommended（如果被邀请到日本人家做客，一般可以带巧克力、饼干或者糕点作为礼物。最好在大型超市购买礼物，并且包装）. 

6）The Japanese do not usually open gifts when they are presented（给日本人送礼时，日本人一般不会当面拆开礼物）. 

“商务文化注意事项”有8项： 

1）The Japanese are accustomed to shaking hands upon greeting, though bowing is traditional and sometimes used as well. If your are bowed to, return the gesture by bowing either to the same depth or lower - the depth of your bow is indicative of the status relationship between you and your counterpart（鞠躬是日本人见面打招呼的传统习惯，但也习惯于握手。如果对方向你鞠躬，你也要向对方鞠躬，深度应与对方相当或者稍微深一些——因为鞠躬的深度标志着你与对方在地位上的差别）. 

2）Consider using the honorific suffix san when addressing people when introduced: Mr. or Ms. Yamada can be addressed as Yamada-san（与日本人见面时使用敬体，比如与山田先生或者山田女生见面时应该称对方为“山田桑”）.
    3）Business cards are usually exchanged upon introductions. It is advisable to have yours printed in both English and Japanese. Use both hands to both present and receive cards. Read the card carefully before putting it away（在第一次见面互相介绍时递上名片，名片最好是用日语和英语双语。注意要用双手递，也用双手接名片。接到名片后认真阅读以后，小心翼翼地收好）.
    4）Make business appointments in advance and be punctual（商务约会一定要提前确定，准时抵达）. 

5）Entertainment is an important part of business arrangements and usually takes place after business hours at a bar or restaurant. Although business may be discussed, these outings are primarily occasions for building friendships（娱乐是商务交往中的重要内容，一般是在下班时间去酒吧或者餐馆。在这种场合虽然也可能涉及商务，但主要是建立友好关系）. 

6）Business dress is formal and conservative. Men should wear a suit and women should wear either a dress or a suit（商务穿着偏正式和保守。男人穿西服，女人也要着套装）. 

7）Business gifts are very important in Japan. The gifts should always be wrapped and are often presented at first business meetings（商务礼品在日本非常重要。礼物必须包装，一般在第一次见面时呈上）. 

8）Be aware that the Japanese try not to disagree openly. They may avoid saying "no" by giving an unenthusiastic "yes."（注意日本人不喜欢当众否决别人的意见，他们不说“不”，但是用一个不那么坚决和真诚的“是”来表示“不”的意思）。 

我多次到日本出差，上面的注意事项自然烂熟在心，我还可以补充一个小贴士：检查一下箱子里带的袜子，有小洞的坚决扔掉，否则在日本吃饭、做客的时候就糗就出大了。我的一个法国同事，秉承法兰西人的伟大传统，一双袜子新3月，旧3月，有了洞洞再穿3个月。他就是从日本出差回来以后才彻底改掉了这个艰苦朴素的"不良"习惯。