Comment by elgenie
15 days ago
The usual dichotomy / terminology for this stuff as it relates to painting national and business cultures with broad brushes is "high context" versus "low context". In a high context culture like Japan people would be expected to code switch between Asking and Guessing behaviors depending on their audience, relative status, social rapport, etc.
I think in Japan the culture is almost 100% Guessing.
I read this anecdote online about a US business dealing with Japanese partners (clients?). There's an item they'd like to discuss, in their regular meeting they bring it up, and the Japanese said "Hmm, this is possible. Let's discuss it next meeting.". Next meeting, they ask again, and the reply was the same. It took them a few rounds to realize that the actual (never uttered) answer is "No, this isn't possible."...
My favourite anecdote of Japan is a gaming company (Sony, Playstation era?)
A Big Boss comes in and tells his vision for the future of the company and what they should do. Middle Bosses nod and agree.
Right after BB leaves, all Middle Bosses have a meeting where they try to figure out WHAT THE FUCK the Big Boss just said and what did he actually mean =)