Why is it so difficult to tell what a Japanese person is thinking?
Japanese communication style is difficult to read because Japanese tend to use fewer words, assuming that you the listener will be able to read between the lines. Some things...
Cross-cultural communication
Getting responses from the Japanese
Building and maintaining relationships with your Japanese colleagues, along with clearly written requests containing background information, options, and labeling your key issues, will help them respond to your inquiry....
Why don’t Japanese share more information?
Due to their struggles using and understanding the English language, Japanese often get exhausted trying to express themselves, and give up before they have communicated all the necessary information. ...
Does videoconferencing work?
When it comes to communicating with Japanese counterparts, video conferencing is still no replacement for face-to-face meetings....
Why Japanese love charts, graphs, and diagrams
The other day I was teaching a seminar on Working Effectively with Americans to a group of Japanese expatriates from a major electronics manufacturer’s U.S. subsidiary. We were discussing...
In Japan, much is said between the words…pay attention!
How to understand the grunts, sighs, hisses and hums that are a common part of Japanese conversation...
The art of drawing out information from Japanese colleagues
How information is exchanged in Japanese companies...
Expecting a direct answer from the Japanese may be “difficult”
How to achieve clarity and avoid misunderstanding...