Haragei

Haragei (腹芸, はらげい) is a Japanese concept of interpersonal communication.[1] 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.[1] It is a form of rhetoric intended to express real intention and true meaning through implication.[2] In some societies, it can also denote charisma or strength of personality.[3]

Takie Lebra identified four dimensions of Japanese silence – truthfulness, social discretion, embarrassment and defiance.[4] 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.[5]

In negotiation, haragei is characterised by euphemisms, vague and indirect statements, prolonged silences and careful avoidance of any comment that might cause offense.[6] Information is communicated through timing, facial expression and emotional context, rather than through direct speech.[7] It is sometimes considered a duplicitous tactic in negotiation to obfuscate one's true intentions, which may cause haragei to be viewed with suspicion.[8] It can also be misconstrued by those with limited experience in the tactic.

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.[9] However, it may make assigning of responsibility or blame to the leader difficult.

In martial arts

In martial arts circles, 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.[10][11]

See also

References
  1. Davies, R & Ikeno, O; The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture; Tuttle 2002 p103-108
  2. Yan, Z.; Xiao, C. G. (2008). Re-interpreting Emperor Hirohito Reciting Shikai at the Imperial Meeting on September 6. Vol. 6. p. 18.
  3. Hahn, T; Sensational knowledge: embodying culture through Japanese dance, Wesleyan University Press, 2007, p67
  4. Lebra, T. S. (1987). "The cultural significance of silence in Japanese communication". Multilingua-Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication. 6 (4): 343–358. doi:10.1515/mult.1987.6.4.343. S2CID 201698606.
  5. Xiao, Q.; Wang, Z. X. (2010). "XIAO, Q., & WANG, Z. X". Canadian Social Science. 3 (4): 30–32.
  6. Binnendijk, H; National Negotiating Styles, DIANE Publishing, 1987 p55
  7. Hassell, R; Haragei: Speaking from the gut in Black Belt Magazine, January 1985 edition
  8. Johnson, F; Dependency and Japanese Socialization: Psychoanalytic and Anthropological Investigations in Amae, NYU Press 1995
  9. Kaiser, D; Pedagogy and the practice of science: historical and contemporary perspectives, MIT Press 2005, p369
  10. Durbin, W; The Fighting Arts of the Samurai: the Warrior's Combat Handbook in Black Belt Magazine March 1990 edition p42
  11. Lovret, F; The way and the power: secrets of Japanese strategy, Paladin Press 1987, p96
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