JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~ Why Japan Is One of the Most High Context Cultures in the World ~
I found an interesting chart. Take a look at this!
This is the Global Context Communication Map.
Wow! There are so many flags!
It’s a map about the differences in communication styles around the world!
I’ve seen it before!
Looking at this chart, you can see that countries in Western Europe,
like Sweden, Switzerland and Germany, are generally low-context cultures.
Yeah, and in contrast, countries in Asia and the Middle East,
like Japan and the United Arab Emirates, are high-context cultures.
What’s the difference between them?
Japan is one of the most high-context cultures in the world.
That means we often rely on unspoken meanings and shared understanding in communication.
Do you know the reason why it’s like that?
Well, in Japan, people grow up sharing very similar values and cultural background.
Because of that, we expect others to “read the air” to understand feelings and intentions without them being said directly.
So, it’s like understanding the mood or atmosphere without words?
Exactly. Also, Japanese people tend to avoid direct confrontation or strong opinions to keep harmony in the group. So, we use indirect or vague expressions on purpose.
Ah, that explains why I sometimes find Japanese communication confusing.
I’m used to a low-context environment, so I expect people to say exactly what they mean.
On the other hand, Swedes have a culture of expressing their opinions and requests clearly,
and since Sweden has historically been a highly individualistic and egalitarian society which foster direct communication,
it is considered to be a low-context society.
It’s truly one of the biggest differences between Japan and Sweden.
Japanese people rely heavily on non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, silence, tone of voice,
and pauses, rather than depending solely on words.
And bowing is a big part of it, right?
It says so much without words.
Yes, body language is very important.
Japanese often leave out subjects or verbs in sentences because the context is clear.
So Japan is like a mystery novel, and Western countries are like clear instructions!
Good way to put it, Pecco!
Alright! I’m going to study Japanese culture more so I can communicate with Japanese people without words!
Summary
Japan is one of the most high-context cultures in the world, where much communication relies on unspoken meanings, shared understanding, and non-verbal cues instead of explicit words. This contrasts with low context cultures like Sweden, where people communicate more directly and clearly, often expressing exactly what they mean. In high-context countries like Japan, understanding unspoken rules and reading between the lines are essential.
