japanese non-verbal communication

Generally speaking, Japanese tend to apologize much and so, we have a few different ways to apologize. One unique posture to express sorry is called “Dogeza.” To make it, you kneel on the Tatami which is a common Japanese floor made of straw, and make your feet flat. Then, you sit on your legs directly, so your behind touches your feet. Next put your hands flatt on the floor, bend your upper half of the body by your waist.

We don’t do “Dogeza” in ordinal situation but do when you want to apologize terribly. For example, if you cannot return a large amount of money by the time you promised, you have to make “Dogeza” in front of the boss. This may not be accepted by the boss, but you should do it really because you made a huge mistake.

“Dogeza” includes the meaning of shamefulness so people don’t want to do. If you would like to be forgiven in serious situation, however, the longer you make “Dogeza” or the nearer your head to the Tatami, the deeper your apology is. So when you behave very badly by accident in Japan, do “Dogeza”.