Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,7, University of Applied Sciences Bingen, language: English, abstract: In the following elaboration we are introducing the role of culture in business. Culture is more than just language or religion. It is about communication, social structure, age, education and many more attitudes. Culture is distinguished from different characteristics and elements which are listed in chapter no. 2 “Culture”. In that chapter you can also read about the different elements of culture like social structure, time, age or social mobility and what it effects on businesses. Especially in East Asia you have to mind many different rules how to behave while you are carry on business. In chapter no. 3 “The impact of Japanese Culture on Business” we amplify on four different core elements which play a huge role in Japanese culture. The Case Study is about AFLAC, it is an insurance company which was founded in Columbus, Georgia, USA. It is one of the few foreign firms that could establish in the Japanese market because of minding cultural differences between western and eastern businesses.