Understanding Japanese culture will make a profound impactful difference on how your customers view your company, giving you an edge against competitors and giving an advantage in Japan’s market. Therefore, these tips should be essential reading for those seeking success there!
1. Formal
No matter who or what the recipient may be, when using Japanese to communicate, certain rules for polite speech should always be observed to avoid miscommunication and ensure effective interactions. Doing this will help avoid misinterpretations of language by both sides as well as ensure your communication remains appropriate and respectful.
As many are aware, Japanese culture adheres to an elaborate code of social etiquette when conducting business and social interactions, so when communicating through email, telephone call, letter etc you should always take precautions in making sure it is polite and appropriate for the circumstances.
As a rule of thumb, one way of distinguishing between formal and informal language is based on its word usage and grammar structure. Formal speech typically features formal, polite language while informal speech tends towards informality and casualness.
Formal speech allows verbs and nouns to undergo several transformations at once; some examples being „iku (go), „kuru „come” and „iru „be”.
Other words can also be altered in respectful ways to convey the same meaning, for instance if you wish to say thank you, then replacing „Hito” with kata may work more appropriately or, when speaking to doctors, with „Oishiyasan.”
There are also other honorifics used to show respect and admiration for people and objects, most prominently „kun” which can be applied to anyone or anything found attractive or endearing.
Chiyan (), meaning cute or adorable in Japanese, can also be applied to someone. You might hear this word used casually during conversations when someone tells someone else they look adorable: „Oh my gosh you look so adorable!”
Communicating with Japanese people requires being polite. Foreigners may find this challenging; therefore it is wise to consult someone fluent in Japanese who can double-check your messages.
2. Informal
Informal Japanese is more prevalent than its formal counterpart and more likely to be heard at work or social gatherings. This makes it an excellent choice for expressing oneself more casually without overdoing it, or who want their Japanese sound natural and authentic.
There are various kinds of informality, each with their own subtleties. One such informality is known as kenjogo; a form of politeness one step below teineigo that shows respect and humility towards those below you in status or subordinate positions. It should always be used when speaking to those of lesser status than you.
An anata is often included with this form. Although not appropriate in daily conversation, using this anata form can be useful when conversing with people of higher status or when learning the nuances of formal register.
Use of exclamation points and question marks is another informal language feature, though they should only be employed when the source text uses more casual register. When this happens, simply directly translate their use.
An exclamation point should only ever be used with full sentences – not single words – so as to produce the desired effect in English.
Additionally, question marks should always accompany complete sentences in formal writing, although doing so in informal text might prove challenging. But the effort definitely pays off!
As a final piece of advice, always strive to use the appropriate register when speaking in any setting, be it formal or informal. Doing this will help avoid making an incorrect impression on those you address – possibly making or breaking an employment opportunity!
3. Numbers
Counting numbers can be challenging for language learners, particularly when you’re learning Japanese. Thankfully, Japanese numbers are fairly easy to learn and understand – indeed it may even be simpler than counting in English!
As you count in Japan, you may notice that its number system is split into units of four. That means a large number like 10,000,000 actually consists of four separate ten thousand numbers that add up to that total figure.
One Mo (million) equals 104.000 Mo, one Yi (hundred million Yi) is equal to 1008 Yi and so forth. These four units make up what are known as 'units of four’ in Japanese with each having its own set of rules.
These rules hold for higher numbers as well. For instance, 24 minutes would be designated [niziyuuyonpun] (Er Shi Si Fen), and 30 minutes is known as [sanziyutsupun] (San Shi Si Fen).
Japanese has special digits to indicate seconds when measuring something without using a conventional clock. Although more complex, these readings still work reliably.
Negative numbers follow similar rules: for instance, 195 is Hiyakukiyuuziyuugo and 418 is Yonhiyakuziyuuhachi.
One exception would be when discussing numbers in Kanji, where they are often written in an indecipherable form – though this only applies to large quantities and not regular daily figures.
4. Colors
Color is an integral component of Japanese culture and language alike, and while most are familiar with black and white as basic colors, you may not realize there are plenty of other hues to consider.
One of the most widely-spread colors in Japan is blue. A traditional hue used since ancient times to produce clothing like yukatas and other attire, blue has long been associated with simple and humble living – it even makes an excellent hue choice for hats!
Green is another key color in Japanese culture. This shade has many associations in Japan and is often associated with nature; additionally it’s often worn as part of young women’s outfits as the color represents daisies!
There are also other Japanese color names related to food and flowers; several colors have also been given animal names – some examples being: Budou Nezumi Budounezumi (grape mouse); Yanagi Nezumi Liu Shu yanaginezumi (willow mouse); Cha Nezumi Cha Shu Chiyanezumi (Tea Mouse).
Other colors have historic connections within Japanese culture as well. White, for instance, symbolizes purity in Shinto religion and was often worn by samurais who performed seppuku rituals.
Purple is another popular color choice in Japan, symbolic of romance. Combined with blue or yellow to create „kawaii” combinations, purple can often be found in clothing such as yukatas, kimonos and other apparel items.
Orange is also an extremely popular color among women to wear, as it exudes softness and femininity. Orange hues make an excellent choice for yukatas or garments to show off legs; additionally, skirts or dresses in orange may also help show them off more.
5. Culture
Japanese culture is an alluring blend of ancient traditions, contemporary innovations, and breathtaking natural surroundings. Explore it at lively festivals or stroll through Harajuku’s fashionable streets; or stop in at an inviting izakaya. Discover more of Japanese religion’s rich history with traditional tea ceremonies, matsuri festivities or martial arts such as Kendo and Judo for yourself.
Japan stands out as an interesting cultural contrast to western countries in many ways, one being their religion where there is no singular god like Christianity or Judaism – allowing a more inclusive approach to spirituality.
Japan is predominantly polytheistic and people worship an array of kami (gods). As a result, Japanese society easily adapts to new deities or variants on existing ones without much difficulty; any new beliefs can easily be integrated into their religion.
Japanese culture places great value in teaching their children how to be gentle, responsible and respectful from an early age.
Japanese parents do not scold their children for making mistakes; rather, they communicate with them gently and patiently, repeatedly explaining what went wrong and how to rectify their actions. This style of parenting is a distinctive trait in Japanese culture.
Japan has many social conventions you might be unaware of as a foreign visitor, such as bowing repeatedly before strangers and using hand gestures to greet each other. For instance, Japanese bow wildly when greeting one another.