Implications for Business Communication: Are the Japanese shy or humble, or both?

Participants in our cross-cultural communication sessions remark that it's hard to get their Japanese co-workers to speak up about accomplishments, or just to speak up period! Some of this has to do with English skill levels (see last week's post) but even more than that especially humbleness is a cultural trait you need to take into account.

You could say that both shyness and humbleness go hand in hand, but I see shyness more as an individual way of being (introvert vs extrovert) and humbleness as a virtue celebrated in Japan because it reflects a cultural emphasis on group harmony and conflict avoidance.

Humility emphasizes modesty and placing others before oneself, emphasizing respect and consideration in relationships.

Some explicit examples you've no doubt heard:

🇯🇵 My English is so poor

🇯🇵 I'm still not doing that great a job

🇯🇵 It was all the team's doing

🇯🇵 I just got lucky

This communication style means that foreign partners need to read between the lines and create a comfortable dialogue environment in order to get beyond this humbleness.

Encouraging participation helps build trust, which is vital in Japanese business culture so investing time in social and business interactions is crucial.

You'll get to the heart of your Japanese business partners if you can be patient and show attentiveness to encourage openness.

Want to know more? At Japan Consulting Office, we specialize in equipping professionals to thrive in cross-cultural environments. Whether you’re looking for group training or one-on-one sessions, we’ve got you covered!

If you want to learn more about bridging language and cultural gaps in Japanese business, why not join one of our sessions! Here’s the link to upcoming sessions (make sure to select your timezone

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/02/japan/society/japan-youth-employment-workplace/