Body Language in Japan

                In Japan, body language plays significant roles on communicating with others, especially facial expression, eye contact, and indicating behavior. Sometimes, body language shows people’s real feelings, and it is possible to make people uncomfortable if you use body language incorrectly. Japanese are very sensitive to their attitudes and behaviors; body languages.

                The most important body language for Japanese is facial expression. For example, in case that you are talking with a customer at your working place, you are required to keep your smile and eye contact with them. Even though you are waiting on the customer with good hospitality, such as polite wordings and behaviors, the customer might be unpleasant to you without your smile. Also, eye contact shows your interest and respect for person who you talk with, so it makes them relieved and credible. These days, because Japanese are not likely to show their facial expressions while communicating with people, some company or working places have focused on having employees keep their smiles and eye contacts with customers. It is no exaggeration to say that facial expression gives people your impression and personality.

                Secondly, there are some behaviors that people can understand our real feelings. For instance, when people tell lies, they tend to look at the lower right, stare at anything, scratch their heads, or bite their lower lips. Another example is folding their own arms, putting their hands in pocket, and crossing the other legs frequently. These behavior shows people have no confidence or feel uneasy. It is possible to expose your hidden feelings by doing these behaviors without being aware, so you have to be careful to use body languages.

                In short, facial expression, eye contact, and indicating behavior are considered as one of the most important body languages in Japan. Body languages are more honest than languages.