Well now, I believe I owe you some episode to substantiate my “thesis” on Japanese courtesy, don’t I? Alert as you are, you would need only a snapshot of some live pictures, so to say. Let’s see, now..
Suppose someone came up to you and told you an obviously untrue story, what would you say? I bet you would likely say “You are a big liar and a rather poor one at that” or something of that sort. What do you suppose an average Japanese would say? In my country things rotate the other way around. So although you may be fully aware of the fact, that is the story being untrue, we must say “Oh, is that so?” or “Really, that is a rather unusual story now, is it not?” Do you sense the kind of subtlety I’m implying?
Back a few years when another friend of mine from Boston didn’t know where the next meal was coming from he applied for an English teaching job that specified the applicant should speak “The King’s English”. A Bostonian, he was about as close to the King’s English as a Texan, nevertheless demanded an interview. The interview done, the would-be Japanese employer softly remarked,” I am sorry to say that according to my experience in this field, your English is somewhat unorthodox, and so I cannot reward you with the position which is open.” This meant in any clear Western-style English: ” Dear secretary, kindly kick this clod down the front steps out into the street where he belongs.”
Now, my dear readers, this code of Japanese courtesy might seem like a very complicated thing to you as a beginner, and I must say you are probably right. It will take you many years to learn the code, when to use it, when not to, and when you can take advantage of it.
To dig deeper into the subject might take a whole book.
I see that my “Trekking Japan” is drawing some attention worldwide, though I haven’t even touched the essentials. As you see, my blog comprises a few other titles in Japanese. You never know, once you have done the trekking, you might visit them.
Bye
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