It aligned perfectly with the themes I’ve been exploring lately, and your opening — describing the mixture of cultural resignation and quiet anxiety — immediately drew me in. I felt a little sorry toward overseas readers as I recognized the accuracy of that sentiment, but I couldn’t deny it either.
Your discussion of kūki, and even concepts like yokei-na osewa or arigata meiwaku, captured ideas that many Japanese people feel yet rarely manage to articulate. Reading them expressed so clearly was striking for me as someone who grew up inside this culture but never had the language for these dynamics.
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful and deeply observed piece.
I look forward to reading many more of your articles.
Thank you for reading this piece so carefully and for sharing such thoughtful reflections. Your comment reassured me that it was worth expressing these themes openly, even if they are sometimes difficult to address. I also look forward to reading more of your work on Japanese culture. Thank you again for your considerate message.
Thank you for this! I’m learning Japanese so I can indeed ask more questions and initiate contact. I feel shame, too, for making mistakes and mispronouncing, but I will have to get over that.
Japanese is a very complex and difficult language, and I truly respect anyone who chooses to learn it. If Japanese were not my native language, I am not sure I would have the courage to study it myself.
Thank you for your comment. I am sure that interacting with Japanese people caused some confusion or trouble for you. We are genuinely delighted that our analysis helped you understand those experiences.
Would Japanese culture consider it acceptable for someone to offer judgement privately, such as an office worker voicing concerns with the boss in his office alone rather than at the meeting?
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it is generally acceptable in Japan to share concerns privately with a supervisor.
From here, this is my personal view: the effectiveness of doing so depends greatly on the supervisor’s personality.
If a supervisor is open to hearing different opinions, they may listen to you in a private conversation. At the same time, supervisors with this attitude usually do not create an atmosphere in meetings where people feel unable to speak.
On the other hand, if a supervisor creates a “cannot disagree” atmosphere during meetings, speaking privately may not be very effective. Unless you have strong negotiating conditions, this tendency is unlikely to change.
I am glad and flattered that my little observation prompted such a profound insight into the Japanese mind. I also read in my guide book about a difference between „honne“ and „tatemae“ which I remember as „private thoughts/public appearance“. Perhaps that is somewhere along the same lines. There are many things I admire about Japan. One - quaintly - are „eki ben“. If someone asked me as a tourist „what is Japan for you?“ then this: The care of preparing a delicious little meal in a pleasant setting which a traveller might open 100 miles from the point of purchase and be happy for a moment. There are (to a Western mind) so many way of just making money off the situation - for some reason, Japanese people have managed to view the world not in such transactional terms.
Thank you for your comment. You truly possess a deep knowledge of various aspects of Japanese culture. Your observation regarding Honne and Tatemae hits the absolute core of our society; it is a very complicated culture that even we Japanese struggle to manage.
As you mentioned, Ekiben is a wonderful culture with a long history, and I, too, always look forward to choosing a local Ekiben whenever I travel long distances.
It is a great honor for us at SJJ that someone with your remarkable sensibility chooses to engage so deeply with the complex layers of Japanese culture. Please continue to enjoy your journey through Japan and its culture.
I am genuinely delighted to know that this discussion helped clarify a misunderstanding you had based on your experiences in Japan.
Your point that "digital communication acts as an escape valve from social pressure" is incredibly important. Indeed, text-based interaction holds a great potential to liberate individuals from the burden of reading the air.
However, I also believe that simultaneously, it may be creating new problems.
We hope to delve deeper into both of those aspects in the future. Thank you for your wonderful suggestion.
This was truly a fascinating read.
It aligned perfectly with the themes I’ve been exploring lately, and your opening — describing the mixture of cultural resignation and quiet anxiety — immediately drew me in. I felt a little sorry toward overseas readers as I recognized the accuracy of that sentiment, but I couldn’t deny it either.
Your discussion of kūki, and even concepts like yokei-na osewa or arigata meiwaku, captured ideas that many Japanese people feel yet rarely manage to articulate. Reading them expressed so clearly was striking for me as someone who grew up inside this culture but never had the language for these dynamics.
Thank you for writing such a thoughtful and deeply observed piece.
I look forward to reading many more of your articles.
Thank you for reading this piece so carefully and for sharing such thoughtful reflections. Your comment reassured me that it was worth expressing these themes openly, even if they are sometimes difficult to address. I also look forward to reading more of your work on Japanese culture. Thank you again for your considerate message.
Thank you for this! I’m learning Japanese so I can indeed ask more questions and initiate contact. I feel shame, too, for making mistakes and mispronouncing, but I will have to get over that.
Thank you very much for your comment.
Japanese is a very complex and difficult language, and I truly respect anyone who chooses to learn it. If Japanese were not my native language, I am not sure I would have the courage to study it myself.
I sincerely support your learning journey.
Thank you!
Sumire, Well-layered, informative posts as always. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words as always. That one phrase from you is a great encouragement.
Thank you for that. It makes so much sense, in terms of my experience with Japanese people.
Thank you for your comment. I am sure that interacting with Japanese people caused some confusion or trouble for you. We are genuinely delighted that our analysis helped you understand those experiences.
Would Japanese culture consider it acceptable for someone to offer judgement privately, such as an office worker voicing concerns with the boss in his office alone rather than at the meeting?
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it is generally acceptable in Japan to share concerns privately with a supervisor.
From here, this is my personal view: the effectiveness of doing so depends greatly on the supervisor’s personality.
If a supervisor is open to hearing different opinions, they may listen to you in a private conversation. At the same time, supervisors with this attitude usually do not create an atmosphere in meetings where people feel unable to speak.
On the other hand, if a supervisor creates a “cannot disagree” atmosphere during meetings, speaking privately may not be very effective. Unless you have strong negotiating conditions, this tendency is unlikely to change.
I am glad and flattered that my little observation prompted such a profound insight into the Japanese mind. I also read in my guide book about a difference between „honne“ and „tatemae“ which I remember as „private thoughts/public appearance“. Perhaps that is somewhere along the same lines. There are many things I admire about Japan. One - quaintly - are „eki ben“. If someone asked me as a tourist „what is Japan for you?“ then this: The care of preparing a delicious little meal in a pleasant setting which a traveller might open 100 miles from the point of purchase and be happy for a moment. There are (to a Western mind) so many way of just making money off the situation - for some reason, Japanese people have managed to view the world not in such transactional terms.
Thank you for your comment. You truly possess a deep knowledge of various aspects of Japanese culture. Your observation regarding Honne and Tatemae hits the absolute core of our society; it is a very complicated culture that even we Japanese struggle to manage.
As you mentioned, Ekiben is a wonderful culture with a long history, and I, too, always look forward to choosing a local Ekiben whenever I travel long distances.
It is a great honor for us at SJJ that someone with your remarkable sensibility chooses to engage so deeply with the complex layers of Japanese culture. Please continue to enjoy your journey through Japan and its culture.
Thank you for your comment.
I am genuinely delighted to know that this discussion helped clarify a misunderstanding you had based on your experiences in Japan.
Your point that "digital communication acts as an escape valve from social pressure" is incredibly important. Indeed, text-based interaction holds a great potential to liberate individuals from the burden of reading the air.
However, I also believe that simultaneously, it may be creating new problems.
We hope to delve deeper into both of those aspects in the future. Thank you for your wonderful suggestion.