Shigehiro Kondo, Choya Yoshu Jozo Company Ltd.

On our final day of our trip (bags already packed and waiting at our hotel), we got the chance to visit with a typical Japanese family-run business. Choya produces and distributes a market-leading plum wine, very liquorious in texture, and very sweet, to be served mainly as an aperitif, or digestif (and in some cases, served as the main course!).

Although we were late (we took the wrong train) we were warmly welcomed, and we got an instant lesson in relationship building - a trait that is common to Japanese business practices and that was alluded to in our visit at Sumitomo. A senior member of the family that runs the business greeted us and proceeded to elaborate on his vast travel experiences in the U.S. and Europe. Americans, used to getting straight to the point at such business meetings, would have nervously looked at their watches, but we, being experienced world travelers (!) understood very well the meaning of establishing a social relationship with our hosts. The only thing that made us slightly nervous was the anticipation of the free tasting...