The video ‘The Use of Silence in Japan’ is a very informative video that highlights the subtle differences people experience when interacting with others whom are from different cultures. Specifically, as the title of the video somewhat indicates, this video addresses how the use of silence in Japan can be very different from the use of silence in, for example, a Western country. These differences occur in numerous ways and they also hold different meanings.
First, Japan is a collectivistic culture that values the group over the individual. Paradoxically, Japan is also a hierarchal culture, one in which certain individuals are deemed to deserve more respect than others. Thus, given the specific characteristics of Japanese culture, silence can be used in various ways and it can hold various meanings.
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"The Use of Silence in Japan".
For example, in the classroom, silence can be used to express surprise, defiance, agreement, disagreement, and femininity (as the ideal Japanese woman is expected to speak softly and only when spoken to). Another example of the use of silence in Japan occurs in the business setting. If a foreign CEO provides a Japanese CEO with a suggestion and is subsequently met with silence, the foreign CEO should remain silent, providing the Japanese CEO with time to think. Further, the Japanese CEO’s subordinates should also remain silence in order to demonstrate respect to their superior.
Silence is an important aspect of Japanese culture. Due to the hierarchal nature of Japan, silence can have a stronger influence in the country when compared to Western countries. Moreover, silence can be used in ways that greatly differ from the ways silence is used in Western countries. It is easy to see that students and business workers should familiarize themselves with foreign customs (including the role of silence) when interacting in an intercultural manner in a foreign country.
