What you wear and how you style your hair are personal choices.
Even so, in Japan, making an effort to look presentable when meeting someone can be seen as consideration for the other person, not just something you do for yourself.
This does not mean you have to dress fashionably.
It does not mean your clothes need to be expensive, either.
What matters more is that your clothes are not badly wrinkled, your hair is not completely unkempt, and your appearance is not obviously out of place for the situation.
In other words, it helps if it looks like you made some effort for the occasion.
This becomes especially noticeable in a business meeting.
If someone arrives with badly wrinkled clothes or very untidy hair, your attention may naturally be drawn to it.
You may start wondering, “Is something wrong?” or even, “Can I really trust this person with the work?”
Those thoughts have nothing to do with the actual purpose of the meeting.
What you really want to focus on is the product, the contract, or the work itself.
But if someone’s appearance becomes distracting, part of your attention is pulled toward something that has nothing to do with the business at hand.
On the other hand, if the person looks reasonably well put together, you do not have to think about their clothes or hair. It becomes easier to focus on what they are actually saying.
Of course, looking presentable does not prove that someone is good at their job.
But if they appear to have prepared properly and to be taking the meeting seriously, it can remove unnecessary doubts and make the conversation easier to focus on.
The same basic idea can apply to occasions such as weddings or funerals.
Dressing appropriately for the occasion can quietly communicate, “I understand that this matters.”
Of course, the standard is not the same everywhere.
What is expected when you go to a nearby convenience store is very different from what is expected when meeting an important client. At a casual gathering with friends, a relaxed appearance may not matter at all.
The important point is not exactly what you wear, but whether you make some effort to match the situation.
In Japan, looking presentable is not only about making yourself look good.
It can also be a small form of consideration: avoiding unnecessary distraction or concern so that the other person can focus on the conversation, the work, or the occasion itself.
