cross culture japan
Cross-culture communication in Japan
Facts and statistics of the ‘Land of the rising sun’.
Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan/East Sea, east of the Korean Peninsula.
Capital: Tokyo
Population: 12,57,30,287 (Aug 2013)
Ethnic Make-up: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)
Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
How are Japanese as people?
Japan is a highly structured and traditional society. Great importance is placed on loyalty, politeness, personal responsibility and on everyone working together for the good of the larger group. Education, ambition, hard work, patience and determination are held in the highest regard.
Oral and non-verbal communication patterns.
Proxemics: - which means having one’s own personal space.
Talking about proxemics in Japan, the people do not like the opposite person to come too close to them when greeting. As they feel that he/she is invading their personal space.
Chronemics: - which means punctuality of people.
The Japanese are very particular about their time and prefer things to be done in the stipulated time. Delay in timings is never preferable in Japan.
Oculesics: - which means eye to eye contact.
Though in the western cultures having an eye to eye contact means a sign of understanding but it is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes, particularly those of a person who is senior to you because of age or status.
Haptics: -which means touching one other while greeting.
The Japanese people bow to each other in greeting. They think it rude to touch.
Kinesics: - the study of body movements, gestures, facial expressions,
Most Japanese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.
For e.g. frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Sit erect with both feet on the floor. Never sit with ankle over knee.
Facts and statistics of the ‘Land of the rising sun’.
Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan/East Sea, east of the Korean Peninsula.
Capital: Tokyo
Population: 12,57,30,287 (Aug 2013)
Ethnic Make-up: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)
Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
How are Japanese as people?
Japan is a highly structured and traditional society. Great importance is placed on loyalty, politeness, personal responsibility and on everyone working together for the good of the larger group. Education, ambition, hard work, patience and determination are held in the highest regard.
Oral and non-verbal communication patterns.
Proxemics: - which means having one’s own personal space.
Talking about proxemics in Japan, the people do not like the opposite person to come too close to them when greeting. As they feel that he/she is invading their personal space.
Chronemics: - which means punctuality of people.
The Japanese are very particular about their time and prefer things to be done in the stipulated time. Delay in timings is never preferable in Japan.
Oculesics: - which means eye to eye contact.
Though in the western cultures having an eye to eye contact means a sign of understanding but it is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes, particularly those of a person who is senior to you because of age or status.
Haptics: -which means touching one other while greeting.
The Japanese people bow to each other in greeting. They think it rude to touch.
Kinesics: - the study of body movements, gestures, facial expressions,
Most Japanese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.
For e.g. frowning while someone is speaking is interpreted as a sign of disagreement. Sit erect with both feet on the floor. Never sit with ankle over knee.