Unveiling: Japan’s

High Context Culture

WHERE LESS IS OFTEN MORE
Why Japan has a
High-Context
Culture?
 LINGUISTIC
FACTOR
• meaning of a word or phrase cannot be
conveyed accurately
• a lot of Japanese words have the identical
pronunciations but different meanings.
 HISTORICA
L
FACTORS
• Isolated from other countries for a long time
• Japan has no absolute single god, like a
monotheistic religion, there is no clear code of
conduct for everyone to follow.
Examples Of
High Context
Culture In
Japan
Indirect instructions from
superiors in the workplace
• Ex. Vague instruction from the boss saying,
“Do it well”. Not giving specific details about
the work.
 Saying Yes and No
• sometimes Japanese people say things that they don’t really
mean.

• Ex. “Is everything ok?”, she answered “Yes” with a strange

smile on her face.

• There are many Japanese phrases that should not be taken

literally
 Indirect claims

• Many Japanese people do not point out to others

even when they are dissatisfied or need improvement
on something.
Being a behaved customer
• Ex. When ordering the first drink at a nomikai
(drinking party), one tends to order the same drink as
everyone else.

• Japanese people don’t want to make other people in

the party wait because of their personal preference.

• Everyone is putting themselves in everyone else’s

shoes
 How to
communicate
with high context
Japanese people
Don't judge by word
• Focus on facial expressions more; and

• try to pay attention to their eyes when

communicating with Japanese.
 Avoid yes or no
questions
• Instead of asking, “Are you okay?, try asking “You look
feeling unwell, and I’m worried about you. So please tell
me if I can do something for you.”
 Don't be too direct with
negative feedback
• it may be better to say, “If you improve this, it will be
better,” rather than pointing out, “This is not good”.
ARIGAT
Ōさん聞いてくれてありがとう
皆
(thank you for listening everyone)

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