How to behave when talking with Japanese people

Although there are Japanese who will speak their mind in any situation, most Japanese don’t like the disharmony of disagreeing too strongly. Westerners often get frustrated because Japanese won’t take a strong or defensible opinion on something. The Japanese, if they disagree strongly on some point, may make some noises but will quickly clam up and agree (or make ambiguous “mmmm” noises) with you if you push your point too hard.

Normal free exchanges of opinion that result in slightly heated conversation are seen as confrontational and most Japanese will try to avoid them. Succeeding to someone else’s point of view is a sign of consideration of others and is generally done to keep the harmony of the group. If you keep in mind that until just a few years ago most Japanese were employed in the same company for life, you will understand how much more important it is to get on with everyone. Why fall out over one opinion when you have 25 years to work with them? Japanese are quite situational and don’t feel that they have to necessarily behave in the same way and have the same views in every situation. For them, being right or wrong is less important than getting on. It pays to remember this when you are in company in Japan.