How to Make a Good Impression in Japan
Simple rules of conduct and etiquette that every visiting foreigner or businessman should know before coming to Japan.
Japan is a country with deep cultural roots, where politeness and etiquette reign supreme, and an understanding of the culture can make all the difference in success or failure at personal interaction. Whether you are conducting business in Japan or simply making friends in Japan, you should be aware of the following rules, as they will not only aid in smoothing over relations in the short term, but in creating a positive impression for the long term as well.
Always Plan to be at Least 15 Minutes Early
As long-term thinkers, and meticulous detail oriented planners, for people in Japan having ‘yoyu’ (meaning 'room for error') is an integral part of planning for anything. This goes for business or personal matters and the easiest way to demonstrate your understanding of ‘yoyu’ is simply arriving a bit early every time you plan to meet someone. Particularly given the complexities of the Japanese public transportation systems and the overpopulation there, there is always a propensity for small things to go wrong in getting someplace, and by always showing up a bit early, you can show that you are the kind of person who takes these things into account.
This is also a good idea, as when trains stop or the unpredictable occurs, you may not be early, but you will still be on time. Additionally, if you are already there when the other party arrives to meet you, you will also win points for taking the meeting seriously and proving that you give the other party the utmost priority.
Don't be Afraid to Apologize... A Lot.
Should the unthinkable occur, and you do arrive late, the first thing you should do is apologize profusely. As aforementioned, in Japan, politeness is absolutely paramount in achieving social harmony. Contrary to the west, apologies are rarely (if ever) seen as a sign of weakness. Apologizing once again shows how seriously you take the other party, and the act of humbling yourself shows how much you care about having a harmonious relationship with them. Ultimately, the act of apologizing will make it much easier for people there to open up to you.
Appreciate Silence
Another element of Japanese culture that is quite contrary to the west is the fact that people tend to be extremely shy around those they don’t know or in some ways, even those that they do. This is particularly true around foreigners. Oftentimes if unsure how to proceed in a certain situation, rather than risk losing face or disrespecting yours, many people will simply resort to silence. Unlike in the west, this silence does not necessarily mean a ‘cold shoulder’ or that you are being ignored. Oftentimes, they are simply taking the time to carefully think through a response.
Don’t be Pushy
This brings us to rule #4. Don’t be pushy. In the west, where we are much more outgoing and straightforward, we tend to be more uncomfortable with long periods of silence. If one occurs while speaking to a Japanese colleague, we may assume that something is wrong, and try to break the silence with small talk, joking or pushing them to say something. In most cases, particularly if they are not native English speakers, this behavior will only confuse your local friend or colleague, making him or her feel even more uncomfortable with answering. If a period of silence is too long, then you can make sure they heard you or understood, but the key is to do it gently.
This concept of not being too pushy also applies to conducting business as well. While westerners may just jump right into business as soon as they meet, or try to conclude things quickly, with the ever-present emphasis on social harmony, in Japan things move much more slowly. Meetings may start off with more casual or light conversation, and end with the statement that another meeting should be held. This is not their attempt at being rude, or wasting or buying time - it is simply how things are done.
Additionally, this also goes for non-verbal cues. Too much strong eye contact or very direct speech are also seen as ‘pushy’ and can retard the pace of developing a strong and positive relationship, by making your local colleagues uncomfortable.
Take Everything Seriously and Follow-Up
While in the west, we may say, ‘Let’s go to the beach on Wednesday.’ change our plans (without explicitly saying so) and our friends are expected to understand. This is not the case in Japan, ‘Let’s go to the beach on Wednesday.’ means ‘Let’s go to the beach on Wednesday’.
If you make a plan with someone, they will expect that you have cleared your schedule, and are committed to it (and they most certainly will do the same). If you can't make it, or have to chance your scheule, they will expect you to call them ahead of time and tell them. Leaving them hanging is a recipe for loss of friendship and/or business contacts. Again, this goes back to showing that you are taking the other person seriously. Meetings (even casual ones), should also always be followed up by thanking them for clearing their schedule for you and for spending time with you.
Learn to Read Between the Lines
Lastly, but most importantly, as aforementioned, you should not expect your Japanese friend, co-worker or correspond to be too direct with you. To do so, would be rude, and show a disregard for your social face. As such, you can expect answers to always be indirect, and you must stay aware enough to read between the lines. In general, you will rarely hear the word, ‘No’. ‘Maybe’ usually means ‘No’ and a hesitant ‘Yes’ or ‘Yes, but…’ means “Maybe’. In Japanese, the phrase ‘Kento Shimasu.’ (I will consider or think about it) is also often used as a polite way to say ‘No’.
Although operating in Japan does present some unique challenges for those unaccustomed to the culture, it is certainly not impossible to navigate (even without the language) and more than anything is a matter of showing the other person the utmost respect. If nothing else, in doing so, you can show your friends or associates that you care about what they think and are trying to understand their culture, and that can win you respect and friendship most anywhere.
Outside Reference:
Kwintessential: “Japan- Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette” kwintessential.co.uk