In Japan, greetings are very formal and ritualized. It is important to show the correct amount of respect and deference to someone based upon their status relative to your own. You should wait to be introduced. It is considered impolite to introduce yourself, even in a large gathering. While foreigners are expected to shake hands, the traditional form of greeting is the bow. How far you bow depends upon your relationship to the other person as well as the situation. The deeper you bow, the more respect you show.
In communication, the Japanese rely on facial expression, tone of voice and posture to tell them what someone feels. They often trust non-verbal messages more than the spoken word as words can have several meanings. The context in which something is said affects the meaning of the words. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the situation to fully appreciate the response. Most Japanese maintain an impassive expression when speaking.
It is considered disrespectful to stare into another person's eyes, particularly those of a person who is senior to you because of age or status. In crowded situations the Japanese avoid eye contact to give themselves privacy. The Japanese believe that turning down someone's request causes embarrassment and loss of face to the other person. If the request cannot be agreed to, they will say, 'it's inconvenient' or 'it's under consideration'.
Face is a mark of personal dignity and means having high status with one's peers. Therefore, they do not openly criticize, insult, or put anyone on-the-spot.
