How to Make Friends
There is an unspoken comradery between foreigners living in Japan. You will make friends with them easily, but making Japanese friends will always be a challenge. Japanese people are renowned for their customer service, respect, and self control. However, they can also be shy and emotionally closed-off. Their culture is fundamentally different than western (American) culture in many ways. Some good, and some not so good. This video will focus on three surprising cultural norms in Japan: relationship prioritization, manufactured language barriers, and invisible social dynamics. Watch and learn how to make friends in Japan.
Japanese People
Relationship Prioritization: Most people on Earth love to chill. Find the poorest person in America, working two jobs, in crazy debt, and they will always find time to hang out with their friends. Alternatively, Japanese people do not prioritize friendships. Work comes first and second… and maybe family third.
Manufactured Language Barriers: Most people in Japan understand English, it’s true, but they will never speak it. Japanese culture values perfection, and shames mistakes. So, speaking “broken” English is too embarrassing to most Japanese people. However, there are Japanese people who want speak English with you. Try to build friendships with them.
Invisible Social Dynamics: Japanese people are masters at “reading the wind.” This is the ability to feel the vibe, maintain social harmony, and silently communicate with other Japanese people. You will never be able to “read the wind,” so you will never really know what Japanese people are thinking. Perhaps it’s a skill that can be learned with time.
Conclusion: You’ll make friends in school easily, and you can make more friends at international meet-ups outside of school.