[ti:Japan Considers Changes to Time-Honored Traditions] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.32]Exchanging business cards face-to-face is a time-honored tradition in Japanese culture. [00:10.20]Business leaders, government officials and others [00:14.96]almost always give the cards to individuals they meet in person. [00:22.24]This ritual, however, is under pressure as Japan's government urges people [00:29.64]to accept a "new lifestyle" to battle the new coronavirus. [00:37.40]Experts this week amended guidelines for person-to-person interactions. [00:45.60]The new rules include a call to wash your hands often throughout the day and follow rules for social distancing. [00:58.64]The guidelines also suggest traveling to work at different times of day and using video conferencing for meetings. [01:11.52]They also express support for the exchange of "meishi," or business cards, to take place online. [01:23.88]On Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended a nationwide state of emergency through May 31. [01:35.28]However, he added that some areas with fewer infections could begin to ease public safety restrictions. [01:48.00]Exchanging business cards in Japan is a well-planned ritual that foreign business leaders are often advised to learn. [02:00.72]The idea is to avoid offending possible business partners or customers. [02:10.40]The ritual involves taking out a new card from a card holder [02:16.52]- not a coat pocket or wallet, then exchanging cards with the right hand. [02:24.96]After that, each person looks at the received card while making small talk, often about the information on it. [02:36.96]People depend on business cards to exchange contacts "and start conversation," said Chikahiro Terada. [02:48.64]He is chief of Sansan, an internet-based business card management service. [02:57.36]His company will offer an "online meishi exchange" for business customers starting in June. [03:07.56]"It's ice-breaking," added Terada. [03:11.84]Japan has not had the explosive rise in infections seen in many other countries. [03:21.48]However, public broadcaster NHK reported Thursday that the country had about 15,500 confirmed cases. [03:35.76]The coronavirus health crisis is increasing pressure [03:41.04]to change many traditional activities that have long been criticized. [03:48.56]Abe recently told cabinet ministers to amend rules and identify wasteful methods [03:57.48]with the idea of cancelling or simplifying them. [04:03.40]Among the common customs that critics note [04:07.32]is the stamping of official paper documents with traditional "hanko" seals. [04:17.08]The coronavirus "is changing the work culture in Japan in many different ways," notes Jeff Kingston. [04:27.72]He is director of Asian studies at Temple University's school in Japan. [04:36.32]Kingston said the coronavirus has sped up changes, but this takes time. [04:44.32]"It's not like turning a light switch off and on...," he said. [04:51.56]I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM