Tsukubai fountain is a Japanese fountain usually found outside the Buddhist temples and Japanese tea gardens. Visitors are needed to “squat or crouch” i.e. to bend down, and go through the cleansing ritual before entering the temple. This cleansing ritual is conceptually similar to the ablutions ritual performed in Christian churches. This Tsukubai cleansing ritual involves hand washing and mouth rinsing. This cleansing ritual is performed prior to entering the Buddhist temples for tea ceremonies.

A Tsukubai fountain is usually made out of stone basin, known as chozubachi. The most prominent element of Tsukubai is a bamboo pipe also known as kakei. A small bamboo scoop is placed on top of the basin, ready to use for performing the cleansing ritual. Tsukubai fountains are usually found outside the Japanese tea gardens or in Japanese themed homes.

A stone lantern, also known as ishidoro, is placed near the tsukubai to provide light during the evening tea ceremonies. Arrangement of stones around the Tsukubai is critically important when it is designed. Green floras and bamboo plants make a great compliment to the area surrounding Tsukubai.

Simplistic in design, a tsukubai is beautiful addition to your garden or tea-house to increase it’s Zen-appeal and add cultural history to intrigue your guests and visitors.

Shishi Odoshi is another Japanese fountain that is very well known for its peculiar style and antique beauty. Shishi Odoshi literally translates into Deer-Scarer. Japanese farmers used the shishi-odoshi fountain to scare away the deer’s and pests that were destroying their agriculture.

As the Japanese culture progressed, Shishi-Odoshi was used more as a meditative element. It’s ability to create calm serenity in its surrounding is really appealing to the Zen Monks. Shishi-Odoshi is famous for the rocking motion of bamboo and its “clacking” sound. The bamboo rocks back and forth with water being filled and emptied from the spout. When the bamboo spout gently hits the surface of basin, it makes a “clacking” sound that is soft and refreshing. People performing meditation are especially fond of this soft clacking sound to focus and concentrate.

All shipments entering Japan have to go through an import declaration process at the regional Customs office. The NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo Clearance System) is used in Japan, and may involve the Sea NACCS or Air NACCS, depending on your method of transport.

In Japan, there are two kinds of customs clearance processes, namely, manifest clearance, low value declaration and high value declaration. It is necessary that the required documentation be produced and all regulations be complied with for your goods to enter the country. The documents required include an air waybill, a commercial invoice, a certificate of origin, an ATA carnet, health certificates and declarations of antiquity where applicable.

One must also keep in mind the country’s regulations regarding food, plants, animals, narcotics, pharmaceuticals and dangerous goods. It is necessary to make sure that your goods do not contravene any laws when they are being imported or exported. The Japanese also have strict laws relating to foreign trade and exchange and these should be diligently followed.

When doing business with Japan, a Customs valuation, along with a description of the goods, needs to be provided. Excise duties are applicable on goods containing tobacco or alcohol and any import or export duties or taxes should be appropriately paid. Japan does not impose Customs fees or exchange controls.As for the exporting of goods, an export declaration process has to be followed during export of goods from Japan. Similar documentation is also required for import.

In the end, it would be very necessary for you to examine the various aspects of business relations where culture plays an important role. Discipline and punctuality are very important Etiquette is strictly followed in Japan and showing respect is essential. During negotiations, it is vital to exercise diplomacy and politeness and to be willing to compromise.