Before I begin, I would like to mention that I am basically comparing Japanese values with our Western culture. I am aware that there are sometimes big differences in Western cultures, but I will not go into every detail of each one as that would go beyond the scope. Nevertheless, there are similar similarities, which I have taken over in this genre for the sake of simplicity.
Perhaps the most defining feature between our Western values and those of Japanese society is understanding that our Western values have a high degree of individuality, whereas Japanese people see themselves as part of a collective. For us Europeans and also for Americans, Canadians and more, we ourselves are at the center of our being. Once our basic needs, such as a roof over our heads, hot meals and financial security, are met, our primary concern is to realize OURSELVES. This doesn't mean that we have to act completely selfishly or narcissistically.
In Japan, however, things look completely different. The collectivistic thinking of the Japanese results in strict hierarchical relationships, such as young versus old, employee versus boss, child versus parents, and so on. In Japan, the individual is always careful to act for the good of the community and, if necessary, to take a step back. This form of collectivist thinking can also be experienced in many everyday situations. People don't speak loudly in the subway and they certainly don't use the phone because they don't want to disturb other passengers. If two passers-by cross paths, both try to avoid the other person and apologize for it. Emotional outbursts (both positive and negative) are avoided in public in order to save one's own face and that of others.
VALUE COMPARISON
In addition to this fundamental difference between Western individualism and Japanese collectivism, there are of course also country-specific differences that can lead to further misunderstandings due to the other part. For these more specific topics, I compared 2 Western value systems, those of the Germans and those of the Americans, with the Japanese values and would like to use the graphics to explain how the respective values can often be misinterpreted by the other side, even though there is often a good intention behind them plugged. These values are examples of many other or individual values. The main thing here is that you become aware of how your own values, which you have acquired through your life experience, are not self-evident for others and that you therefore become more open to the behavior of others. In this way, you enable yourself not to instinctively condemn the behavior of your counterpart, but to question it - why is he behaving the way he is?
German Values | Evaluation by Japanese |
|---|---|
Time management | Inflexible |
Privacy | Reserved |
Honesty, openness | Undiplomatic, offensive |
Directness | Aggressive, insensitive |
Discipline | Stiff, humorless |
Performance | Elbow attitude |
Directness – For us Germans, performance also includes getting to the point quickly. When we are faced with a problem, we address it directly and want to find solutions with the help of clear structures. This behavior usually seems tactless and aggressive to the Japanese, as the Japanese have clear ceremonial rites that are followed even under the greatest stress.
Openness, honesty – We appreciate it when people tell us things as they are. And with as little fuss as possible. Yes is yes and no is no. We prefer as many facts as possible on a topic, no matter how unpleasant they may be, to a positive packaging of a problem. This value, which we value very highly, seems undiplomatic and hurtful to the Japanese and is one of the main reasons for the failure of German-Japanese relations.
Time management – We often plan for the long term. Detailed planning with milestones and deadlines is important to us, especially for more complex projects. However, you will encounter a lack of understanding among the Japanese. This often makes us seem very inflexible to them.
Performance– By this we mean efficient work, time management and the urge to meet deadlines by all means. The email traffic can also become more urgent and the meeting can become more heated shortly before the deadline. Although the thought behind this achievement may seem laudable, it is off-putting to the Japanese and reminds them of an aggressive elbow mentality.
discipline – Yes, both countries are considered very disciplined, but this type of discipline is fundamentally different. In Germany, discipline means that duty is duty and should be separated from leisure time. We perform well at work and are then rewarded with our individual free time. In Japan, discipline also means excessive drinking with colleagues and the boss after work and maintaining interpersonal relationships at work. This is why Japanese people often see German colleagues as stiff and humorless.
Privacy – This value has already been touched on in the point of discipline. Of course we have work colleagues with whom we get along well. And we might even develop friendships with some of them. Nevertheless, we usually consciously separate work and private life within our work. We may talk about our last vacation and sometimes answer honestly when asked how we are feeling. But we keep topics like family, children, money worries and the like to ourselves. Japanese people here often perceive Germans as shy or arrogant, as we, conversely, do not inquire at this level with our Japanese colleagues.
harmony– one of the most important values in Japan is based on avoiding open confrontations with your counterpart. A direct no is avoided. Instead you get long evasive sentences or silence. For us in Western cultures, this behavior often seems evasive or is even interpreted as weakness.
Face– In Asian cultures, especially in Japanese, protecting one’s own face and that of the other person is the highest good. The harmony just mentioned is intended to help save face. This results in cautious and often lengthy language, which quickly strikes us as hypocritical and indecisive.
respect– In Japan, respect is always shown to higher-ranking or older people. This is reflected in the fact that Japanese people always turn to their superiors and seek advice from older people. It doesn't matter whether they know better themselves or not. To us, such behavior appears irresponsible and extremely dependent, and we quickly tend to underestimate the other person or dismiss them as unindependent.
Personal relationships – This is further reinforced by maintaining informal contacts during working hours. Talking about current and intense experiences in private is expressly desired, even if it often feels like we have to reveal too much of our private life.
Japanese Values | Evaluation by Germans |
|---|---|
Personal Relationship | Not enough privacy |
Patience | Sluggish, slow |
Etiquette | Fake, artificial |
Respect | Irresponsible, dependent |
To save face | Hypocritical, indecisive |
Harmony | Evasive, weak |
etiquette– In Germany we have an etiquette guide that teaches us sophisticated manners. In Japan, however, there are significantly more such ritualized manners, which, if not followed, can quickly offend a Japanese person. Bowing correctly and exchanging business cards are just a few of them. Such rigid and ritualized processes often seem artificial and inauthentic to us, but they are essential for bonding with Japanese colleagues and friends.
patience– The Japanese people's need for harmony and face-saving attitude leads to a calm and reserved manner, which often seems sluggish and slow to us with our approach to finding direct solutions.
IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF JAPANESE CULTURE
Here's an overview of which cultural characteristics you should practice before your trip to Japan!
和 (wa=harmony): The highest commandment is to maintain harmony and avoid conflict Because it's just so important, I'll talk about harmony again. The most important thing when dealing with Japanese people is maintaining harmony. Conflicts are avoided as much as possible. In the chapter Negotiations with Japanese people I write about techniques to better avoid such situations and to save face.
内・外 (uchi – soto= inner group – outer group): There is trust and dependence within. There is caution outside. The group division is relative. Another important element, or two elements, is the understanding of uchi and soto. Uchi, the inner group, represents trust and dependence in the inner circle. In other words, the outgroup is cautious and reserved. This group division is relative and situational. The family can be uchi towards the work colleagues, whereas the work group in this case would be soto. Nevertheless, the same working group can be uchi to foreign business colleagues when visiting abroad.
本音・建前 (honne – tatemae= honest statement – diplomatic statement): Depending on the situation, different opinions are expressed Similar to uchi and soto, the situation is similar to the elements honne and tatemae. Honne represents the honest statement - whereas tatemae refers to the diplomatic statement. Within my uchi group, I can address topics openly and directly, even if they are unpleasant topics. I can only express myself diplomatically towards Soto groups, i.e. outsiders. This means that I maintain harmony again and both my own face and that of the person opposite me. Direct denials or even accusations are TABOO.
謙虚 (kenkyo= modesty): expression of politeness. Presenting yourself and all uchi members in a worse way in front of other soto members. Modesty plays an important role in Japan. It is an expression of politeness towards others. You portray yourself, but also the members of your own Uchi group, as worse than others. This portrayal as worse can often seem to us as if a Japanese person were even embarrassing his colleagues.
遠慮 (enryo= restraint): In order not to put pressure on others, one should hold back Restraint is also an important virtue for the Japanese. You don't want to put too much strain on the other person, so you practice restraint yourself. A typical example is asking if your Japanese guest would like something to drink. In most cases he will immediately say no, even if he would like something to drink. It's up to you to ask your guest at least 3 times at shorter intervals, because an unwritten rule says that after the third or fourth time you ask, you can accept an offer, such as a drink. If you want to avoid such situations, don't even ask, but rather provide a drink straight away.
思いやり (omoiyari= empathy): Putting yourself in the shoes of others and fulfilling expectations without question. People from our Western cultures usually have to learn this behavior or empathy first because they are used to the other person expressing their wishes. It's about learning to put yourself in the other person's shoes and being able to meet their expectations without them explicitly asking you a question.
努力 (doryoku= effort, striving): Always do your best. When evaluating performance, this attitude is sometimes more important than the results. Simply put, this means that you should always give your best to whatever task you are given. The Japanese usually value this striving for perfection more highly than the actual result or performance achieved. The best way to do this is to observe waiters in an unattended restaurant. Instead of talking a lot with colleagues, people actively look for work and, if necessary, polish the dishes a fifth time.