In today's article, we will talk about Japanese body language. Do you know what body language is? Body language is a form of non-verbal communication. It primarily encomes gestures, posture, facial expressions, eye movement, and the proximity between people. In this article, we will discuss a little about this body language and why it may be useful to know about it.
In this article, we will not talk about How to know if a Japanese girl likes you.
Table of Contents
Why is it important to learn the body language of Japanese people?
Gestures and facial expressions speak much more than words. Although body language is somewhat universal, it integrates a kind of "tradition" of movement specific to each culture. Knowing how the Japanese act in certain situations can help us make decisions, understand how to behave, and what to say, whether in relationships, friendships, work, etc.
Knowing body language will help us interpret emotional signs and anxiety and observe signs of anger and threat. In addition, we will understand when a person may exhibit expressions of embarrassment, manifestations of pride, and interpersonal signals. Knowing body language involves reading people's eyes, observing posture, and facial expressions. It is important to clarify that this is not an easy task; one does not learn body language overnight.
Another importance is that Japan heavily utilizes facial expressions and gestures in daily life. Even in commercials and TV shows, you may feel confused if you don't understand the gestures presented. For this reason, mastering Japanese body language is just as important as spoken language.
What is Japanese body language like?
Japanese body language is quite different from Western body language. To better understand this language, we need to know how the Japanese are and behave. We must understand the keys to Japanese elegance, which are movement, posture, and attitude.
The Japanese don't usually make sudden movements or gestures when they walk. The Japanese always have good posture. They don't lean against walls, buildings or light poles. The Japanese don't lean over tables or say they're going to piss. They also enjoy a lot during meals, eating slowly and savoring as much as possible.
Japanese people usually have posture. Having good posture tells the other person that you are respectful and attentive. As part of Japanese culture, bowing is a form of art and can have various types of meanings.
It is worth ing that there are exceptions, there are many Japanese who don't care about anything, and especially young people tend to break these paradigms of body language. Japanese people are very discreet, it is difficult to understand and decipher the body languages of Japanese people.
Signs of Japanese body language
Smile - The Japanese smile to communicate various emotions: anger, embarrassment, sadness, and disappointment. The interpretation depends on the context.
Silence - Silence in Japan is golden and is often used as a negotiation strategy. In one part of the conversation, it can signify agreement, disagreement, surprise, challenge, stubbornness, shyness...
arms folded - A person with their arms crossed and their eyes down suggests deep thought. If the person is crossing their arms and making eye , it indicates disagreement or challenge.
universal body language - It doesn't matter the culture or type of person; if you are talking to someone and want to know if the person is showing signs of interest in you, just observe their facial expressions, hair touching, open positions, and proximity. Many gestures and body language cues people tend to make without even realizing it, so it's good to have a universal understanding of body language.
How do you know if the person is interested?
Shyness - Observing shyness is a good way to know if the person is interested in you or not. If the person becomes quite shy around you, it is very likely that they are interested in you.
reactions to attitudes - If you are learning body language to win someone over, you must take action and make the first moves. An example: hold the person's hand while crossing a busy avenue and see how they react (of course, you wouldn't do this with a stranger). If they resist, or later let go and step back a bit, they are not interested in you. This action is necessary; with this hint, they may start to show more signs of interest.
I want to talk - Japanese people are shy; they rarely strike up a conversation with you. In those situations, if a person of the opposite sex smiles at you, it might be an opportunity to start a chat. Some go further; if you are on the train and someone next to you picks up an English book and starts reading, they are saying: "Hi, how are you and where are you from?"
When the person doesn't want to talk - The open hand behind the head, at the nape, is usually an indication that the person is embarrassed and uncomfortable, wanting to get out of that situation. Sometimes the person may say expressions like "do kana" (how will it be?). If you are drinking and you say something, and the person remains silent for more than 3 seconds, taking a sip slowly and with pleasure, it may mean that they do not want to talk anymore. When someone waves their hand at you as if swatting a fly, it means they do not want to talk to you.
Gestures you can't do in Japan
Some body gestures in Japan can make you become suspicious. Making eye is considered rude, leads to discomfort, and can be interpreted as a sign of aggression. So, if a person looks away from you, it doesn't mean they're interested in you or not, it's just that eye is not common, especially with strangers.
If you're in a restaurant, for example, be quiet in yours, don't stand with your head high looking at everyone, they might think you're a terrorist or that you're going to start dancing instead. Another thing I don't recommend doing is chewing nails, sucking on pens or chewing pencils, the Japanese don't usually do that, and it can get bad.
yakuza (mafia), especially if the feet are further forward than the torso. Another thing you should never do in Japan is point with your finger! If you want to point at something, use your whole hand.
Another thing you can't do is show anger through facial expressions, gestures, or crossing your arms. This is quite rude, if you are nervous, leave the place and come back when you calm down. Japanese people like space too, being too close to each other or touching people can be dangerous!
not to sneeze and blow your nose in public; that’s why the Japanese wear masks so much when they’re sick. And whenever you are given a business card, take it with both hands. I hope this article has helped you understand a bit about Japanese body language.
