... . It was mentioned early on that the Japanese are quite ambiguous. For this reason it is essential not to use direct yes and no answers. Unaccustomed to this kind of ambiguity, Americans tend to pressure Japanese executives for clear-cut specific responses. There are 16 different ways to say no in Japan (Nishida 42). The Japanese do not like to be ... ...

• Word Count: 8160
• Approx Pages: 33
• Grade Level: High School

... be indirect and closely follow rule of etiquette. Westerners like to be direct and to establish the bottom line quickly. The Japanese however, prefer to keep their options open, favoring ambiguity over confrontation. In fact it is considered rude to be direct. Thus, to the Westerner, words may not always mean what they seem. For example, the simple "yes" or "no ... ...

• Word Count: 2911
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography