I’m Roku-san, and at Japanacea I explain Japanese life and culture.
Why do Japanese people behave the way they do? How do they understand one another without saying everything out loud? At what point does something begin to feel rude, inconsiderate, or out of place? Drawing on my experience of living in Japan, I put into words the things that travel guides and dictionaries often leave unexplained.
I was born and raised in a regional city in Japan and moved to Tokyo when I entered university. After several twists and turns, I now live in a sparsely populated rural community. I also spent a year abroad as an exchange student.
Living in both cities and the countryside, and seeing Japan both from within and from abroad, made me realize that things Japanese people do not even think need explaining can be completely unclear to someone looking in from the outside. I have also seen how greatly the idea of what is “normal” can vary within Japan itself, depending on region, generation, family, and workplace.
Through my work and experience running companies, I have dealt directly with Japanese workplace culture, business relationships, interpersonal expectations, and administrative systems. I also have a family and live as part of a local community. Outside work, I value time with my family and enjoy making pottery.
What I write for Japanacea is not based on books and research alone. It is grounded in what I have actually seen, heard, felt, and thought through everyday life and work.
What interests me most is the gap between the words Japanese people use and the thoughts or judgments they leave unspoken.
For example, when turning something down, people may avoid a direct “no” and instead use polite language to create a little distance. Unwritten rules may be treated as common knowledge that everyone is simply expected to understand. Even a very small gesture can lead people to form judgments about someone’s upbringing or character.
People are often unable to fully explain the reasons behind these reactions and judgments, even to themselves. At Japanacea, I try to make those vague feelings as concrete as possible by explaining where they come from.
Of course, I do not claim that my perspective represents every Japanese person. Reactions and judgments vary by region, generation, family, workplace, social position, and personality. My explanations will not apply to every person or every situation, but I try to capture the feelings and assumptions that many people in Japan would recognize.
I also do not rely on personal experience or instinct alone. When needed, I consult official sources and verify relevant information about social systems, institutions, and history. My aim is to explain the less visible parts of Japan through both lived experience and verifiable facts.
I am not an expert who knows everything about Japan, nor do I claim to speak for all Japanese people or offer a single definitive answer.
My role at Japanacea is to bring to light the things that have gone unexplained simply because they feel too obvious to Japanese people, and to put them into words that people from outside Japan can understand.
Japan makes more sense once someone explains what was left unsaid.