🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <CLAUDE.92Sep3165937@tokyo.trc.mew.mei.co.jp> claude@trc.mew.mei.co.jp (Claude Huss) writes:
    >>
    >>That reminds me when I came to Japan, and my boss that time said 
    >>(When I showed my project):
    >>-Muzukashii desu ne...
    >>Then, I thought that would be difficult and I made more and more
    >>plans and all the time I heard:
    >>-Muzukashii desu ne...
    >>Then, at last I understood that "A Japanese never says NO, he
    >>will make you tired to death before you can got an answer...."
    >>
et tu Brute.
It is quite common to misunderstand indirect Japanese nagations.

We Japanese had better be more direct when we talk to Americans.

So here are five advices for Japanese when he talk to foreigners:

a) Be more direct than you usually are.
   Suppose an American friend likes to talk about internationarization of
   Japan too much because the Japan Times tends to overstress that issue
   and he thinks it is a common subject in Japan but you are bored.
   State simply "Let us change the subject," instead of indirectly saying
   "Well, ah, uh, it's interesting."
b) Be less apologetic.
   When your American friend complains Japanese trains are too crowded,
   never explain the situation of Japanese transportation infrastructure.
   He would be puzzled and wonder if your father is the president of JR.
c) Avoid to talk much about history/background of the subject.
   Your friend is mostly interested about now and the future
   instead of the past.  Present your main point first and then
   add a little background if necessary.
d) Say simply "What's new," or "How are you today," instead of
   "What are you going to do this evening," according to Japanese convention.
   Otherwise you look too contradictious or argumentative.
e) Avoid common subjects such as "How unique Japanese culture is," and
   "How high Japanese technology is."
   These subjects are too magnanimous; remember the Americans are
   proud of their nation naturally.

For foreigners, these lead to another hint on
how to survive in Japanese working environment:

4) Be patient to above five tendencies of Japanese colleagues;
   take the tendencies in account when you talk to them;
   and avoid misunderstanding carefully considering what they really mean.


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