Com/360 Interculture Communication Paper
International Communication Paper
Jennifer Conner
COM/360
April 1, 2013
Faculty: Gilbert Noel, SR.
If there was ever a country that had miscommunication issues, it is Japan. Throughout the many years of their political relationship Japan and United States have found themselves in the midst of many instances of miscommunication. This is to be expected when a collectivistic and high-context culture, such as the Japanese, finds themselves constantly communicating with an individualistic and low-context culture, such as Americans. These are the two countries that this paper will be addressing in terms of intercultural communication and their differences that may lead to miscommunication. The first example is miscommunication between Japan’s former prime minister, Mori Yoshiro, and former United States president, Bill Clinton. In 2000 Mori was hosting the summit of the G8 leaders in Okinawa, but spoke limited English. In order to try and prepare for the summit Mori learned every day English greetings; however when greeting Clinton instead of hearing “How are you?” from Mori, he heard, “Who are you?” Clinton replied, “I’m Hilary’s wife,” to which Mori did not understand but continued to reply with, “Me too” (Kowner, 2003). Another example is with former prime minister of Japan, Miyazawa Kiichi. Prime Minister Miyazawa spoke fluent English and was comfortable with foreigners. However, Miyazawa’s fluency in English was a major source of criticism from the Japanese public, and they felt as though a translator should have been hired to limit any chance of miscommunication between the two counties (Japan and the United States). Saito Akira (1993), a commentator of Yomiuri Shinbun, a Japanese publication commented, “A country’s leader should try to respect its language as well as its culture and tradition” (Kowner, 2003). The Japanese are a culture that is considered rather shy by nature, and it is at the core of their cultural pattern in regards to social
Jennifer Conner
COM/360
April 1, 2013
Faculty: Gilbert Noel, SR.
If there was ever a country that had miscommunication issues, it is Japan. Throughout the many years of their political relationship Japan and United States have found themselves in the midst of many instances of miscommunication. This is to be expected when a collectivistic and high-context culture, such as the Japanese, finds themselves constantly communicating with an individualistic and low-context culture, such as Americans. These are the two countries that this paper will be addressing in terms of intercultural communication and their differences that may lead to miscommunication. The first example is miscommunication between Japan’s former prime minister, Mori Yoshiro, and former United States president, Bill Clinton. In 2000 Mori was hosting the summit of the G8 leaders in Okinawa, but spoke limited English. In order to try and prepare for the summit Mori learned every day English greetings; however when greeting Clinton instead of hearing “How are you?” from Mori, he heard, “Who are you?” Clinton replied, “I’m Hilary’s wife,” to which Mori did not understand but continued to reply with, “Me too” (Kowner, 2003). Another example is with former prime minister of Japan, Miyazawa Kiichi. Prime Minister Miyazawa spoke fluent English and was comfortable with foreigners. However, Miyazawa’s fluency in English was a major source of criticism from the Japanese public, and they felt as though a translator should have been hired to limit any chance of miscommunication between the two counties (Japan and the United States). Saito Akira (1993), a commentator of Yomiuri Shinbun, a Japanese publication commented, “A country’s leader should try to respect its language as well as its culture and tradition” (Kowner, 2003). The Japanese are a culture that is considered rather shy by nature, and it is at the core of their cultural pattern in regards to social