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.
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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 gold and is often used as a trading strategy. In one part of the conversation, it can mean agreement, disagreement, shock, challenge, stubbornness, shyness…
arms folded – A person with folded arms and downcast eyes suggests deep thought. If the person has their arms crossed and making eye , it indicates disagreement or challenge.
universal body language - Regardless of 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 pay attention to their facial expressions, hair touching, open positions, and proximity. Many gestures and body language cues people often make without even noticing, 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 whether or not the person is interested in you. If the person is quite shy with you, it is very likely that he is interested in you.
reactions to attitudes - If you are learning body language to attract someone, you should take action and make the first move. One example: hold the person's hand while crossing a busy avenue, and see how they react (of course, you won't do this with a stranger). If they resist or let go and step back a bit afterward, they are not interested in you. This action is necessary; with this indication, they may start showing more signs of interest.
I want to talk – Japanese are shy, they will rarely bring up a conversation with you. On these occasions if a person of the opposite sex smiles at you, it can be an opportunity to strike up a conversation. Some go even further, if you're on the train and someone next to you picks up an English book and starts reading, he's saying: Hi, how are you and where are you from?”.
When the person doesn't want to talk – The open hand behind the head, on the back of the neck, is usually an indication that the person is ashamed and embarrassed, that they want to get out of that situation. Sometimes the person can say expressions like “do kana” (how will it be?). If you are drinking, you say something and the person is silent for more than 3 seconds and takes a sip slowly and with gusto, it could mean that they don't want to talk anymore. When someone waves their hand at you as if shooing a fly, it means they don't 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 farther 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.
