{{Short description|Japanese concept of interpersonal communication}} {{italic title}} {{Nihongo||腹芸, はらげい|'''Haragei'''}} is a Japanese concept of interpersonal communication.<ref name="Davies">Davies, R & Ikeno, O; ''The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture''; Tuttle 2002 p103-108</ref> It also appears in martial arts circles, with a somewhat different meaning: see below. Literally translated, the term means "stomach art", and it refers to an exchange of thoughts and feelings that is implied in conversation, rather than explicitly stated.<ref name="Davies"/> It is a form of rhetoric intended to express real intention and true meaning through implication.<ref>{{cite book|title=Re-interpreting Emperor Hirohito Reciting Shikai at the Imperial Meeting on September 6|pages=18|volume=6|issue=2|date=2008|last1=Yan|first1=Z.|last2=Xiao|first2=C. G.}}</ref> In some societies,{{clarify|date=May 2020|reason=Societies = social circles? Either way, some more context should be provided}} it can also denote charisma or strength of personality.<ref>Hahn, T; ''Sensational knowledge: embodying culture through Japanese dance'', Wesleyan University Press, 2007, p67</ref>
Takie Lebra identified four dimensions of Japanese silence – truthfulness, social discretion, embarrassment and defiance.<ref name=Lebra1987>{{cite journal|title=The cultural significance of silence in Japanese communication|year=1987|author=Lebra, T. S.|journal=Multilingua-Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication|pages=343–358|volume=6|issue=4|doi=10.1515/mult.1987.6.4.343|s2cid=201698606}}</ref> In Western literature, the essence of the difference between just talking and really communicating through silence is analyzed in Harold Pinter's ''The Dumb Waiter''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=XIAO, Q., & WANG, Z. X|year=2010|journal=Canadian Social Science|pages=30–32|volume=3|issue=4|last1=Xiao|first1=Q.|last2=Wang|first2=Z. X.}}</ref>
In negotiation, {{Transliteration|ja|haragei}} is characterised by euphemisms, vague and indirect statements, prolonged silences and careful avoidance of any comment that might cause offense.<ref name="Binnedijk">Binnendijk, H; ''National Negotiating Styles'', DIANE Publishing, 1987 p55</ref> Information is communicated through timing, facial expression and emotional context, rather than through direct speech.<ref>Hassell, R; ''Haragei: Speaking from the gut'' in ''Black Belt'' Magazine, January 1985 edition</ref> It is sometimes considered a duplicitous tactic in negotiation to obfuscate one's true intentions, which may cause {{Transliteration|ja|haragei}} to be viewed with suspicion.<ref>Johnson, F; ''Dependency and Japanese Socialization: Psychoanalytic and Anthropological Investigations in Amae'', NYU Press 1995</ref> It can also be misconstrued by those with limited experience in the tactic.
{{Transliteration|ja|Haragei}} also functions as a method of leadership, replacing direct orders to subordinates with subtle, non-verbal signals. It is considered a desirable trait in a leader in Japan.<ref>Kaiser, D; ''Pedagogy and the practice of science: historical and contemporary perspectives'', MIT Press 2005, p369</ref> However, it may make assigning of responsibility or blame to the leader difficult.{{citation needed|reason=Seems to be personal opinion of the editor who added this?|date=January 2018}}
==In martial arts== In martial arts circles, {{Transliteration|ja|haragei}} has a different meaning, although the concepts are related. Here it refers to those arts which enable the practitioner to sense threats or anticipate an opponent's movements.<ref name="Durbin">Durbin, W; [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9YDAAAAMBAJ The Fighting Arts of the Samurai: the Warrior's Combat Handbook] in ''Black Belt'' Magazine March 1990 edition p42</ref><ref>Lovret, F; ''The way and the power: secrets of Japanese strategy'', Paladin Press 1987, p96</ref>
==See also== *High- and low-context cultures *Implicature *{{Transliteration|ja|Ishin-denshin}} *{{Transliteration|ko|Nunchi}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Culture of Japan