Koji Kodama Saying 'Yes' or 'No'

YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjV84NLaDE

Japanese

ええ、日本人のビジネスマンはほとんどの場合ですけれども、率直に「はい」とか「いいえ」って言わず、むしろその相手の気持ちをよく考えるっていうか、まあ礼儀を保って率直にはまず答えないと思います。そういうケースが多いと思いますけれども、はっきりと断りたいっていう気持ちが自分にあっても、交渉を引き延ばしたり、「はい」って言っても、ボディ・ーランゲージとか、その気持ちは他の言葉じゃなくて、他の形で伝わることがよくあると思います。

English

Well, in most cases, Japanese businessmen do not say openly "yes" or "no"; rather I would say they consider well the others’ feelings. I think they stay polite and do not answer frankly. I think there are many cases like that. Even when they clearly want to refuse, they will extend the negotiation. Or even when they say "yes," their (true) feelings will be conveyed not by their actual words, but by other forms such as their body language.

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Authors: LouisPM, h.brinsko, orkelm.