When it come to verbal communication, the Japanese tend to regard verbal expression as being more about etiquette and good form than about representing true feelings. Unlike the "right to the point" style of the Westerner, the Japanese tend to be far more circumspect and less direct. Thus, unless the Westerner knows how to interpret the subtext of such communication, misunderstanding may occur.
Taylor (2000) said, the subtleties of Japanese communication, makes it important to be a keen and active listener, as well as a good observer of body language. It may also be useful to become familiar with the Japanese style of non-face-to-face communications such as letter or report writing.
Non-Verbal Communication.
The Japanese are highly sophisticated at communicating without words. Their ability to give and receive non-verbal messages is deep rooted in Japanese history, etiquette and national culture. At its foundation is the belief that kokoro, the core of the inner self, is not something that can be expresses well through words. The Japanese feel that the spoken language is more indicative of the surface world than of true feelings according to (Taylor,2000). .
This poses a challenge for the Westerner. Without a proper understanding of Japanese forms of nonverbal communication, it is too easy to miss a lot of what is being conveyed to you, or seriously misjudge a situation, and make incorrect assumptions. So, it would be of great value to become familiar with how the Japanese express themselves without words. It will also aid in forming a smoother alliance with the Japanese counterpart.
The Japanese culture admires the reticence trait. According to Hodgson et al.(2000) to westerners it might bring impatience since "silence is not what Westerners are accustomed to However, it is to the favor of the westerner not to interject this quietness since the Japanese official is contemplating what was said.
