Any interruption would be considered rude. Additionally, "directness can be considered rude and a smile may not always indicate mirth, it can be a sign of embarrassment or nervousness, says (Hodgson et al. (2000) .
Verbal Communication.
Verbal communication, in Japan, tends to be indirect and closely follow rule of etiquette. Westerners like to be direct and to establish the bottom line quickly. The Japanese however, prefer to keep their options open, favoring ambiguity over confrontation. In fact it is considered rude to be direct. .
Thus, to the Westerner, words may not always mean what they seem. For example, the simple "yes" or "no" can be misunderstood. The Japanese "yes", hai means "yes I understand you." Unlike our "yes", it is not a decision to commit. Moreover, the Japanese dislike saying "no" because it can create disharmony. Thus their "no" is a subtle one. To avoid saying a clear no they may apologize or become quiet, according to UCLA et al. (2003) .
Cross-Cultural Communication.
Some Japanese will know enough English to want to listen to you, even with an interpreter there, so:.
• Speak slowly and clearly. .
• Avoid jargon, idioms, long sentences and complex grammar. .
• Avoid negative questions such as: "You wouldn't mind if I smoke, would you?" .
• Use humor cautiously; jokes are easily misunderstood. .
• Avoid slang; they may take it literally. .
• Isolate each question. .
• If you or your Japanese colleague is talking about large numbers, write them down, especially numbers over 100,000. The Japanese have a different term for large numbers, and it could be confusing. .
• Give supportive feedback. .
• Check and clarify; do not assume either you or they have correctly understood. .
Non-Face-To-Face Communication.
The key to business relationships in Japan are personal relationships that can be established through face-to-face contact.
