The Japanese culture is one of the hardest to understand in the world, but if you do manage to get a grasp of it, then it can be fascinating. In this article I will take a look at some of the key aspects of Japanese culture and how to understand them from a Western perspective.

Roughly two thirds of Japan is covered in mountains, and because of this there is not much inhabitable land. This means that people had to live close together and depend on one another throughout Japanese history. This has lead to the concept of harmony being deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Japan’s history of dependence on one another and their strong sense of harmony has lead to a very group-orientated culture. The Japanese value maintaining harmony more than getting their own opinion across. For example, if you were Japanese and your group of friends asked you to go to a shop that you didn’t particularly like, it is likely that you would say yes, purely to keep the harmony in your friendship group.

The Japanese have a way of communicating that no other culture has. They will keep silent as a way of showing their opinion! Because of this, silence is considered good in Japan, and people who speak out a lot are considered disruptive and disrespectful. The Japanese are able to deduce what others are saying just by looking at their facial expressions and posture. In the Western world, silence is considered uneasy and awkward, whereas in Japan it is considered a communicative skill.

In this article I hope you have learnt a few of the basic concepts of Japanese culture. These small steps can help you go a long way in understanding the complex mind of the Japanese.