Western Culture: Conflict Resolution In The Japanese Culture

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Conflict Resolution in Japanese Culture
Submitted by: Group 5
Japan is a harmonious society with low rates of litigation, crime, and divorce. Their citizens learn to be attentive to others, to value group goals more than immediate personal gain, and to broadly include everyone in group activities and decisions.
In Japan, conflict resolution is very contextual. That is, it's important to consider the context of the conflict, what the situational factors are. Who are the people involved, what are their positions in the cultural hierarchy, what are the consequences of the resolution, etc. The "principle" that might be involved takes a back seat to the relationships and feelings of the people involved. Since Western culture does not share the …show more content…

The Japanese, however, typically refuse to confront conflict, or even to acknowledge that it exists. A frank initiative to lay all the cards on the table and work out the differences, so commendable among western people, might be seen as the height of rudeness in Japan. Besides conflict avoidance, the Japanese strive for relationships in which obligations are minimized. If they must incur obligations, they like a lot of slack within which to fulfill them. This is because obligations and their fulfillment are very important in Japanese culture. Any interpersonal interaction is likely to result in some degree of obligation, and the consequence of not fulfilling it is the loss of trust and support, not only from the party involved, but from any observers as well. In Japan, conflict can be an opportunity to create …show more content…

Manipulate the context: In a group situation, be sensitive to the relationships between your Japanese associates and alter the circumstances and environment until you get the reaction you are looking for. Do not get into the issue directly; instead try to manipulate the context till it makes them feel comfortable and open enough to discuss the issue further in a constructive manner.
2. Don't lose nerve: The Japanese will typically give a vague reply or pause indefinitely. The opponents may lose their patients and give away too much. Do not ask direct questions and expect direct answers. Instead of jumping in to fill the pause created by them, acknowledge their need for time. The trick is to invite them to take the next initiative.
3. Eliminate surprises before meetings: The Japanese are very uncomfortable with resolving major conflicts in the public context of a meeting, and might never return to the table if they are "surprised" in this

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