More companies are launching digital business card services, which allow users to easily exchange professional information with their smartphones instead of with conventional paper cards. The demand for such services is expected to increase as it is becoming more common in Japan to switch careers and work side jobs. In the second half of the program, we look at how digital business cards may change the way companies and individuals promote themselves and their brands.
Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."
In this program, we'll learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.
Our headline for today is:
Smartphone-Based Digital Business Cards on the Rise.
Speaking of "meeshi"...
I don't believe I've ever given you my card.
So let me try now... I'm Tokunaga Akane.
Pleased to meet you.
Thank you (for the card).
To be honest, before coming to Japan I personally never used "meeshi."
But in Japanese business culture, exchanging them is a very important ritual.
Yes.
They're seen as more than cards
with info written on them.
We treat them like an extension
of the person.
When receiving one, use both hands,
unless you're exchanging them,
in which case you can use one hand.
Don't put it into your pocket,
and don't bend it.
Treat it with respect.
It's said that more "meeshi" are exchanged in Japan than anywhere else in the world.
But people are starting to go digital.
Now, before we listen to the story in Japanese, let's go over some key terms.
"saabisu."
service.
"jibun."
oneself.
"joohoo."
information.
OK, see if you can follow along.
More companies are launching
smartphone-based digital business card services
as an alternative to paper business cards.
Studio Prairie has created a digital business card
that uses a plastic (IC) card.
You can send your information by having people place
their smartphone on top of your card.
You can also share information
in the form of photos, videos, and more.
Sansan has started a service that allows
members to share their information
simply by bringing their phones together.
If your workplace or company should change,
your information is automatically updated
for contacts on the app.
Oh wow, that's great. No more worrying about running out of cards,
or having to get new ones printed every time you get a promotion!
Right. Now, the story mentioned a service where all you have to do is bring together your smartphones.
So Tokunaga-sensee, Chiara, would you like to give it a try?
OK... so, like this?
Oh wow, that's so cool!
It's easier and faster than I expected!
Yes. And the service is designed so that if you switch departments or change employers,
your info is automatically updated for your contacts.
Now that is great. So the information that they will have will be always up to date.
Exactly. OK, let's review the following sentence from the story.
More companies are launching digital business cards services
as an alternative to paper business cards.
Now read along with me.
"kami no meeshi no kawari ni
dejitaru-meeshi no saabisu o
hajimeru kaisha ga fuete imasu."
Today we'll learn about "kawari ni."
"Kawari ni" is used to say that something
is serving as a substitute for something else.
The story mentions "dejitaru-meeshi"
as an alternative for paper cards
by saying "kami no meeshi no kawari ni."
We can use "kawari ni" for people, too.
Take a look at this illustration.
OK, so I'm in a meeting...
and it looks like I'm concerned about time.
Chiara is in a meeting, but she has to
get to her next appointment,
so she decides to ask Yamaguchi-san
to fill in.
How would you explain this to someone?
OK. Let's see, so you can use "kawari ni" and say...
"Watashu no 'kawari ni' Yamaguchi-san ga kaigi ni demasu."
(Yamaguchi-san will attend the meeting on my behalf.)
Correct!
We can use it to say that someone
will do something on our behalf.
We also use "kawari ni" to mean "in exchange for" or "in return for."
That's right.
If you filled in for Chiara,
she'd owe you a favor.
You could ask her for something
in return.
Yeah, so for example, I could say,
"Watashi ga kaigi ni deru 'kawari ni' Chiara-san wa genkoo o kangaete kudasai."
(In exchange for me attending the meeting, please come up with a script.)
Yes.
Now let's say you wanted to thank
Yamaguchi-san for filling in for you
by helping him with his work.
What would you say?
OK, so I would say...
"Kaigi ni dete kureta 'kawari ni' owatte inai shigoto o tetsudaimasu."
(You filled in for me at the meeting, so in return I will help you with any unfinished work.)
But... that sounds... I'm sorry, that sounds a bit patronizing, using "kawari ni" there.
Right.
When you want to convey your gratitude,
instead of "kawari ni," you could say...
Oh, I know this one... Um... you can use "oree ni," right?
So it would be:
"Kaigi ni dete kureta 'oree ni' owatte inai shigoto o tetsudaimasu."
(I will help you with any unfinished work as a thank you for filling in for me at the meeting.)
That's right.
Yes, that sounds a lot nicer.
So use "kawari ni" or "oree ni"
depending on the situation.
OK, Tokunaga-sensee, "arigatoo gozaimashita."
"Arigatoo gozaimashita."
Inside Japan.
So what prompted this growing shift toward digital business cards?
It's partly due to the pandemic, which made online meetings and events more common.
People needed a way to exchange "meeshi" virtually.
Another reason is that "tenshoku" and "fukugyoo" are becoming more common in Japan.
"Dejitaru-meeshi" are easier to update.
I see. And the app we tested earlier seemed really convenient and easy to use.
Plus, it generates a lot less waste.
Yes. And some services also let users share contacts within their organization.
That means you can build a company-wide database of client information.
- Oh, I see, so you can also use these services as a really valuable marketing tool.
- Exactly.
Now, the story also mentioned a service that involves a plastic IC card.
We spoke with someone who uses one.
This is painter Hatori Hirooki.
He travels the world creating art and selling his work on the street and in galleries.
He's been using a "dejitaru-meeshi" to promote himself and his work since 2022.
He says the great thing is that you can share your profile with people on the spot,
as long as they have a smartphone.
When I go to galleries and parties,
instead of exchanging cards
I can just say "Hold out your phone."
I can share my profile in a casual way.
Hatori has it set up so that his card links people to his portfolio.
He says that you have the freedom to link to whatever you want.
You can customize it to your liking.
It's a way to really show people
what you're about.
Isn't that cool?
- Seems like a really good way to promote your business or your brand.
- Yeah.
One of the advantages of "dejitaru-meeshi" is that they're highly customizable.
Check this out.
Some digital business card services incorporate augmented reality technology.
Here's a sample profile as seen on a smartphone.
When you tap the person's picture, it launches your phone's camera.
Hi there! I'm Hanajima from Daftcraft.
Pleased to meet you!
A customizable virtual image is overlaid onto the real world.
Oh, that certainly makes an impression!
- It could be a really great icebreaker, though.
- Definitely.
So you can also showcase a product or your work through an AR animation.
That sounds really cool.
It sounds like this technology could really open up the possibilities of networking.
Yes. Of course, the more convenient these tools become, the more secure they will need to be.
So companies will have to take measures to ensure data security and confidentiality.
All right, and that's all for today.
We'll see you next time.
See you soon.