Your colleagues will appreciate you showing the same interest in their background. The Japanese don't like surprises. Prepare them for upcoming presentations or discussions by sending them written material well in advance. This will allow each member of the team to have a copy, which will speed the decision-making process. Make business appointments as far in advance as possible.
Punctuality is very important in Japan.
Be sure to allow ample time between appointments. The decision process can be a very slow procedure in Japan. Workers at all levels of a company contribute input. Patience is a virtue. Once a decision is made, however, the implementation is immediate.