I think part of it is that Western stereotypes of Japan were formed in the 1970s and 80s, when many of the people visiting were coming for business and experiencing rigid corporate formalities, getting wined and dined by six levels of branch managers and regional directors and VPs. But in general social interaction in Japan is very conte…
I think part of it is that Western stereotypes of Japan were formed in the 1970s and 80s, when many of the people visiting were coming for business and experiencing rigid corporate formalities, getting wined and dined by six levels of branch managers and regional directors and VPs. But in general social interaction in Japan is very contextual, so people in intimate settings engage completely differently than a hospitality or service setting, where a flight attendant or waiter isn’t going to act like your friend like they do in the US. That’s why common spaces like kakuuchi are important
I think part of it is that Western stereotypes of Japan were formed in the 1970s and 80s, when many of the people visiting were coming for business and experiencing rigid corporate formalities, getting wined and dined by six levels of branch managers and regional directors and VPs. But in general social interaction in Japan is very contextual, so people in intimate settings engage completely differently than a hospitality or service setting, where a flight attendant or waiter isn’t going to act like your friend like they do in the US. That’s why common spaces like kakuuchi are important