The Japanese Art of Silence

Silence is revered in Japan. It’s craved. It’s given. It’s expected.

It is considered a sign of respect, self-discipline, and mindfulness. In traditional Japanese culture, silence is valued as a way to convey respect for others, especially those in positions of authority or seniority.

This is why many Japanese people tend to be reserved and careful with their words, preferring to listen more than they speak.

A classic example is on Japanese trains. Shinjuku station in Tokyo for example, is the busiest train station in the world and has 3 million people each day travelling through it. It’s an extraordinary marvel of efficiency and it’s a hive of activity.

But once you step inside the train and the doors close, even a train that is packed with people, you are greeted with a welcoming silence. It’s almost like everyone is in a moment of quiet reflection.

In addition to respect, silence is also seen as a way to cultivate inner peace and self-discipline.

Japanese Zen Buddhism emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and meditation, which often involves periods of silence and stillness.

Many Japanese people also practice martial arts or traditional Japanese arts such as tea ceremonies or flower arrangements, which require a deep focus and attention to detail that can be facilitated by silence.

Chinmoku

Chinmoku (沈黙) is a Japanese word that can be translated as “silence” or “quietness”. In Japanese culture, silence is considered to be an important aspect of communication, and it is often valued over words.

Chinmoku is particularly important in the context of Japanese Zen Buddhism, where it is viewed as a tool for achieving enlightenment.

By cultivating a state of silence, one can empty their mind of distracting thoughts and focus on the present moment. This can lead to heightened awareness and a deeper understanding of one’s true nature.

Chinmoku acts as a ‘social lubricant’ in Japan whereas it’s often an awkward absence of words as it is in the West.

But Chinmoku isn’t always welcomed! Likely anyone, Japanese also experience uncomfortable silences just like we do in our respective countries!

But knowing how to ‘read the room’ is essential that you pick up from being there and is mostly (and silently!) governed by common sense!

Learning it from working in Japan

As a long-term resident in Japan and working as the only foreigner in a Japanese company, there were numerous times when a foreign business partner would visit and I would sit in on the meeting.

My presence wasn’t needed for a verbal translation, as our elderly Chairman was fluent in English, but more so to assist the foreign visitors to understand the non-verbal side of communication that is an important part of any Japanese meeting.

As strange as it may sound, learning to speak Japanese is easier than learning their non-verbal ways of communication!

It thus took me a while to understand what my role was and why I was invited to sit in on these meetings because it wasn’t actually explained to me.

In Japan, one doesn't receive a detailed job description like in the West, one must learn what their role is themselves!

At first, the meetings started off sitting down with the obligatory tea or coffee, normal small talk and banter would ensue… then, inevitably there would be a pause… the dreaded pause!

A chorus of silence blanketed us all as both sides seemed to realize we had exhausted the usual talk about topics like their flight in, their impressions of Japan, and the weather.

‘The Pause’

Then as if right on cue, the Westerner would pull out a topic and continue to fill the empty void with whatever they could, and it was usually forced but understood.

But our Chairman never ever did and it wasn’t until a year or so in that I noticed this and learned that it actually was happening all around me in Japan.

I realized that it wasn’t actually an inability to converse, a lack of communication skills, or anything of the sort.

In fact, it was the polar opposite… it was an incredibly advanced and evolved form of communication…

…It was a dramatic…

and…

uncomfortable…

pause…

These pauses between Japanese allow them to somewhat spiritually ‘feel’ each other out. It’s almost like some kind of futuristic mating ritual where spirits are intertwined to see if there is a match…

The Japanese have long treated silence as a kind of virtue, and Zen Buddhism has played a role in developing the attitudes towards silence in Japan to make it more generally accepted, if not revered.

Japanese can and do like to communicate just as much as anyone, but adding a pause allows one to process their thoughts and to ensure the words to follow are appropriate and thoughtful.

Do the dance and embrace the silent moments

So if you find yourself in a conversation with a Japanese person, and that moment comes where there is a pause where you’d usually find yourself blurting something out to fill the void…don’t!

Let it be. Enjoy the moment and see if you can bond in the spiritual dance that is… Chinmoku!

Short story #7 from the series ‘7 Secrets of Japanese Success’.