Non Verbal Communication In Japan and the Arts

Movies and theatre are good examples. In a Noh theater play most of the story is communicated through physical communication. The viewers should pay attention with all of their senses and not just rely on the words their ears hear coming from the actors mouths.

Matsumura (1984) has commented on Japanese characteristics of non verbal communications and the way that they view art: they tend to view the situation as a whole rather than in individual pieces. In art they look at the whole piece and in communications they focus not only on the words, they look at the gestures, implied meaning, who they are talking too and where the conversation is taking place, the other persons breathing pattern etc. According to Matsumura (1984):

“When a Japanese communicates with someone, he or she does not only pay attention to the meaning of the words, but also to all of the components of communication in order to understand the true message. Those components include linguistics factors, non-linguistic factors, the atmosphere of the setting where the communication takes place, and social relations between communicators. Japanese pay careful attention to all of them and try to understand the real feelings and intentions.” (40)

Words seem to be left for more formal situations with set phrases. The closer people become to each other, the more linguistic communication’s necessity is weakened.

There is a superfluous amount of codes of non verbal communication that have developed in Japan that allow a quiet Wa (harmony) to flow in society.

It has been said that the Japanese do not have the custom of getting to the point and expressing their thoughts precisely. There is definitely some truth to this characteristic. Where there seems to be a lack of expression for facts and detail it is made up in the richness of the expressions of emotions. This is all part of the non verbal communications game.

In the West we would say, “Sugar? Cream?” “Help yourself.” “Make yourself at home.” In Japanese society an unwritten rule of conduct is, you should know what the other person wants without having to ask.

In another situation there was an American woman who was invited to have lunch at a Japanese co-worker’s house. The co-worker’s wife offered some coffee to the American woman and her husband. He responded with a “Yes.” The American Woman responded by asking for some black tea. This was actually an insult to the server. In Japan, it is polite to only accept what is offered, as not to burden another person.

The server must also put a lot of thought and planning as what to serve to the guest. The guest realizes that the server has put time into determining ahead of time what he or she would like to drink, refusing only proves that the server was wrong.

I think there is a great difference between the respect level of material objects in Japan and the United States. In Japan, material objects or items received from someone are given just as much respect as the person is.

When introduced to someone, business cards are usually exchanged. The business card should never be fiddled with, wrote on, or folded. Also, you should never place it in your back pocket, or in your wallet if you keep it in your back pocket. A guest’s coat is always hung up, never placed over a chair, and imaginary lint is also brushed away.

The wrapping paper from a present is never crumbled up and thrown away; rather it is usually gently folded back to its original form with the ribbon retied around the top.

When you are home or at a traditional Japanese restaurant, the shoes are placed together with the toes toward the door so that the guest may easily put them on when leaving. Furniture is always used properly; you never sit back on a chair, lean on a desk or sit on a.

These type of actions and non verbal communication are just part of a learned system of conduct. There is nothing really mysterious about them, but not understanding the system can lead one to see it this way.

It is best not to use hand or other gestures because the meaning may not be universal. The following is a short list of common gestures:

Me, myself: Pointing to ones nose or touching the nose.

Listening: Nodding one’s head up and down, this should not be with a “yes” gesture. It means that one is listening, necessarily agreeing.

Negative: Fanning one’s hand back and forth in front of the face as if to “no” with the hand or fan away flies.

Modesty or embarrassment: Covering the mouth with the hand, usually by women.

Fighting: Criss-crossing the index fingers or tapping the index fingers together.

Money: Index and thumb together, similar to what is sometimes used in the West to mean “OK”.

Eating: Holding an imaginary rice bowl in the left hand while pretending to shovel rice into the mouth with chopsticks with the right hand.

Drinking: Mimic the wrist action of taking a drink from a small sake cup.

Come here: Waving the hand in a back and forth motion with the fingers pointed downward.(Times Square Travels, Nonverbal Communication,1999)

There are many patterns of non verbal communication in Japan which are important to understand. Seeing something from the other persons' point of view will broaden your way of thinking. Non verbal communications do not naturally cross cultures so they need to be paid attention to and absorbed. It can be a tricky game trying to understand what someone is really saying, but your relation ship with that person will be much deeper and smoother if you make an effort to play the non verbal communication game.

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