[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"siteSettings":3,"post-deciphering-honne-and-tatemae-in-group-collaboration":23},{"data":4,"sourceMap":-1},{"headerPages":5,"settings":9},[6],{"slug":7,"title":8},"about","About",{"contactEmail":10,"faviconUrl":11,"heroDescription":12,"heroImage":13,"heroTitle":18,"ogImageUrl":19,"seoDescription":20,"seoTitle":21,"siteAuthor":22,"siteName":21,"socialLinks":19},"matsushita_sei@kindai.ac.jp","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fzbxc2ul2\u002Fproduction\u002Fbd8e5c871dc32af558af4cdabe8efda12a8066c1-32x32.png","Share your story, thoughts or insights during studying at Kindai University, Osaka, Japan. ",{"_type":14,"asset":15},"image",{"_ref":16,"_type":17},"image-e5476b326a4484e8c912f842b742f8be4de00edf-2993x1995-jpg","reference","Go Global.",null,"Posts by international students","Kindai Global Media","Global Education Center, Kindai University",{"data":24,"sourceMap":-1},{"_id":25,"author":26,"body":35,"group":142,"image":19,"imageUrl":19,"publishedAt":146,"title":147,"visibility":19},"cb937367-f54a-4ccf-af1d-309b5d10cbc1",{"avatar":27,"description":30,"fullName":19,"name":31,"slug":32},{"_type":14,"asset":28},{"_ref":29,"_type":17},"image-15abff5eb258bfc61653d0a375792ea299ece895-166x174-png","I'm a researcher. ","Dr. Kevin Ramirez",{"_type":33,"current":34},"slug","dr-kevin-ramirez",[36,78,110,118],{"_key":37,"_type":38,"children":39,"markDefs":76,"style":77},"ee4f0e6e6336","block",[40,45,50,54,58,62,65,69,72],{"_key":41,"_type":42,"marks":43,"text":44},"b43aa983f395","span",[],"One of the most persistent cultural hurdles foreign students encounter in Japanese higher education is the distinction between ",{"_key":46,"_type":42,"marks":47,"text":49},"d25e506c7c64",[48],"em","honne",{"_key":51,"_type":42,"marks":52,"text":53},"87f76c0d0e5f",[]," (one's private, genuine feelings) and ",{"_key":55,"_type":42,"marks":56,"text":57},"6b89f8c2d7c3",[48],"tatemae",{"_key":59,"_type":42,"marks":60,"text":61},"b4768fe42619",[]," (the public stance adopted to preserve collective harmony). New arrivals often mistakenly interpret ",{"_key":63,"_type":42,"marks":64,"text":57},"4fcaeefb48ea",[48],{"_key":66,"_type":42,"marks":67,"text":68},"756fe6202043",[]," as insincerity or evasiveness. However, within Japanese societal dynamics, ",{"_key":70,"_type":42,"marks":71,"text":57},"0ab3ad7455d9",[48],{"_key":73,"_type":42,"marks":74,"text":75},"2118445b1d2d",[]," serves as an indispensable social shock absorber designed to prevent interpersonal friction and embarrassment.",[],"normal",{"_key":79,"_type":38,"children":80,"markDefs":109,"style":77},"ce3479d48b10",[81,85,89,93,97,101,105],{"_key":82,"_type":42,"marks":83,"text":84},"93a66c7c9eca",[],"In a seminar setting, a Japanese student or colleague may rarely reject an idea with a blunt \"no.\" Instead, you will hear subtle softening phrases like ",{"_key":86,"_type":42,"marks":87,"text":88},"b7adc69c0bde",[48],"\"Sore mo ii desu ne, demo...\"",{"_key":90,"_type":42,"marks":91,"text":92},"c248744963f7",[]," (That is good too, but...) or a thoughtful tilt of the head. This indirectness is not indecision; it is an invitation to read between the lines (",{"_key":94,"_type":42,"marks":95,"text":96},"415b11d53960",[48],"kūki o yomu",{"_key":98,"_type":42,"marks":99,"text":100},"06e7e1f3a68c",[],", or \"reading the air\"). It signals that adjustments are needed without directly threatening the presenter's standing or disrupting group cohesion (",{"_key":102,"_type":42,"marks":103,"text":104},"b0cceccce767",[48],"wa",{"_key":106,"_type":42,"marks":107,"text":108},"567ee9fc8e93",[],").",[],{"_key":111,"_type":38,"children":112,"markDefs":117,"style":77},"289c343645da",[113],{"_key":114,"_type":42,"marks":115,"text":116},"62dd92ff6260",[],"",[],{"_key":119,"_type":38,"children":120,"markDefs":141,"style":77},"bad56dfac50f",[121,125,129,133,137],{"_key":122,"_type":42,"marks":123,"text":124},"fbf854b95d86",[],"When international researchers understand this nuance, teamwork transforms. You learn to check in privately before major presentations (",{"_key":126,"_type":42,"marks":127,"text":128},"5908995c2fb4",[48],"nemawashi",{"_key":130,"_type":42,"marks":131,"text":132},"8e4cb5fe0a44",[],") and solicit honest opinions in low-stakes, one-on-one environments. ",{"_key":134,"_type":42,"marks":135,"text":136},"737423fc5af9",[48],"Tatemae",{"_key":138,"_type":42,"marks":139,"text":140},"77531a34d775",[]," is not about hiding truth, but about delivering honesty with diplomatic consideration. Mastering this balance is essential for anyone seeking to build meaningful professional and personal relationships across Japanese academic and corporate landscapes.",[],{"name":143,"slug":144},"Business and Japan 2026 Fall",{"_type":33,"current":145},"business-and-japan","2026-08-26T13:27:01.293Z","Deciphering Honne and Tatemae in Group Collaboration"]