Japanese are said to be people who don’t express their feelings to other people. The emotion of Anger might be the most typical one that Japanese are apt to hide. Japanese fear conflict and quarrels produced by expressions of anger, because harmony with people around them is a first priority in Japan. Even if they get angry at their situation or at an opponent, Japanese keep their faces blank.
1. Anger against a senior
If a boss grumbles at an inferior, the inferior would not express anger against the boss. They will incline their head and heave an audible sign. Many Japanese don’t express anger, especially at their seniors.
2. Anger against a stranger
If a stranger steps on a man’s feet in a crowded bus, he might say “chotto!” (hey!), but generally a Japanese would only give a cough and dart an angry look at the stranger. Japanese hesitate to complain against strangers.
3. Anger against an equal
If a woman’s boyfriend breaks his promise of a date, most women would express their anger outspokenly. She may hit him good and hard. In this case, there are no differences between Japan and the west any more.
4. Anger against a junior
For example, the boss may say ”iikagen ni shiro!”(come off it!”) when he calls down a junior. The boss might thump the table angrily. In this situation the boss does not resist expressing his anger.
5. Anger against a family member
When parents scold their child for being lazy, they would say ”kora!” (stop that!) to train tha child strictly. The relationship between parents and child is the closest, so they express their emotions frankly.
Japanese are apt to hide their emotions, however, in recent years Japanese are adjusting the degree and way of expression of anger. Japanese hardly express their anger straight to superiors and strangers; they hold their feelings in, so as not to make waves between themselves and others. On the other hand, Japanese express their anger straight, like westerners, to equal and close people.
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