[Niknaizorai]

"Internationalization of Japanese corporations often means building more plants overseas or training employees in foreign languages and sending them overseas, contributing to the companies increased profit and prestige overseas; rarely does it mean hiring more non-Japanese employees ("blue eyed" outside directors) or foreign lawyers. The more they talk about "internationalization" (kokusaika) in tatemae, the harder they will have to try to keep under their hat their honne (nationalization).
Frustratingly, the national slogan of "Lets internationalize ourselves" can be situational because there has been no clash of arguments in Japan over either national or international principles. One tends to suspect that internationalization (tatemae) is another name for nationalism (honne) in view of the fact that "internationalization" has mostly been discussed in the context of the methods of the advancement of the international status or influence of Japan and the promotion of its national interest"
"The maintenance of the Japanese "wa" (intragroup harmony or interpersonal harmony) calls for hara, because the WA exists not only among those who admire one another but among those who hate one another too. To play the every-one-must-be-happy game, every player must abide by the rules of the game of the ceremony. The unwritten rules of the ceremony game include:
- Respect authority and tradition
- Be quiet
- Have Hara.
To synthesize the conflicts of interests or of personality, the ceremony must not be efficient but effective. The cozier the place is, the more the chances are for the performers to confirm each others Honne.

"However, what is stipulated in the law is not necessarily what is actually practiced. In Japan, we often hear people say "Yes, thats what the law says in tatemae. But thats not the way it is (Genjitsu wa chigau) in sharp contrast to the statement Americans make "I am sorry but thats the law."

An often used remark, "Hito-no-kokoro-no-ura-o-yome" (read the rear of anothers mind) doesnt necessarily mean that one should be suspicious of the motives or integrity of others; it often means that one should be sensitive and caring enough to read into their unspoken desires or willingness to help.

The immediate reaction on the part of the Americans might be, "uh huh, we have public self and private self." These are two sides of a coin, rarely reversing themselves, whereas Honne and Tatemae, being part of the periphery of a coin, can readily overlap and reverse themselves.

The Japanese mind, like traditional Japanese houses that have an "engawa" (verandah) serving as "ma" between the living rooms and the garden, has no clear demarcation line between "inside" Honne and "outside" Tatemae. A situational use of Honne for insiders (uchiwa) and tatemae for outsiders (sotomono), although it may occasionally appear outrageous to Westerners, is a commonly accepted practice in Japan.

Foreigners are treated politely with only Tatemae (outer truth) as "gaijin" (outsiders), and are rarely told the honne (inner truth), to their frustration."


"The Unspoken Way "Michihiro Matsumoto