New Japanese colleague

[marcelor]

I have a new colleague from Japan. We work in adjacent research labs in a uni in Australia. Judging from the way he interacts with his labmates, he doesn't seem like unfriendly. However, since he came (a month or so), we've never spoken though we meet along corridors and in instrument rooms. All we had was the awkward making and dodging of eye contact. I've been told that Japanese are very shy when it comes to saying hello to strangers but also been told that Japanese are very polite and will always greet people they meet. If they don't, they probably don't want anything to do with you. So which is true?

I'm ethnic Chinese, btw.

[epigene]

This is just an impression I get from your post, but this Japanese person must be shy and probably doesn't know how to strike up a conversation with someone he doesn't work with. I don't think it has anything to do with your ethnicity.

A lot of Japanese don't know how to interact with other Asians, starting from not knowing what language should be used to communicate. It may sound silly to you living in a culturally diversified country, but I find many people like that. Of course, there are racially biased people (every country has its share), but it is generally not the rule but the exception, especially among Japanese with overseas experience.

[Glenski]

I've been told that Japanese are very shy when it comes to saying hello to strangers but also been told that Japanese are very polite and will always greet people they meet. If they don't, they probably don't want anything to do with you. So which is true?
The former is true. Perhaps more so than the latter (which I've never heard, and I've lived in Japan for the past decade).

Say something. Find the right moment (lunch?). It's not that hard. He's probably thinking the same thing of you. And, if his English is not perfect, he will have second thoughts about initiating any conversation.

[ASHIKAGA]

I have a new colleague from Japan. We work in adjacent research labs in a uni in Australia. Judging from the way he interacts with his labmates, he doesn't seem like unfriendly. However, since he came (a month or so), we've never spoken though we meet along corridors and in instrument rooms. All we had was the awkward making and dodging of eye contact. I've been told that Japanese are very shy when it comes to saying hello to strangers but also been told that Japanese are very polite and will always greet people they meet. If they don't, they probably don't want anything to do with you. So which is true?
I'm ethnic Chinese, btw.

Well, have said Hello to him and introduced yourself? It usually works for people of any ethnic backgrounds.

[Illusional]

why don't you start up a conversation with him?? it's true that most japanese people are polite, but not all of them are shy. adhering to a stereotype won't really get you anywhere, so the only way to get a definite answer is to talk to him yourself. what could you possibly lose?

raverboy

[Giostigma]

Take initiative (sorry for the brutal spelling). Anyways. Your going to have to most likely introduce yourself and get him comfortable enough with you to know your a friendly person. He is probably shy.

[marcelor]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I was thinking he's shy too. I'm very shy too but maybe to a lesser degree than him lol. I'll try striking a conversation next time I see him.