Why Japanese Can't Leave Korea

In Japan, indirect communication is a fundamental cultural norm, so people tend to convey their opinions subtly rather than directly. In contrast, in Korea, it is common to express one's opinions actively and directly.

Ms. Nanase said that she often finds Korea's direct communication style more comfortable. She was quoted directly saying, "But in Korea, I express my opinions more actively and directly, so sometimes that's more comfortable, and I've come to do that too. In fact, Koreans dislike indirect speech." She emphasized that Koreans tend not to prefer roundabout ways of speaking.

Ms. Nanase revealed that she practiced indirect speech extensively while living in Japan to adapt to the local culture. She explained, "While living in Japan, I made an effort. Because it wasn't easy, people in Japan would look down on me, so I practiced indirect speech a lot."

However, after coming to Korea, she realized that her original personality wasn't bad, experiencing that direct speech was actually more positively received. She added that she currently maintains a half-and-half communication style, speaking directly in Korea and switching back to indirect speech when meeting Japanese friends.

Ms. Nanase mentioned that she can distinguish Korean men from Japanese men at a glance just by their appearance. She said that Korean men prefer neatly styled hair and simple, tidy clothing styles, similar to Uniqlo style.

On the other hand, she explained that Japanese men often wear more individualistic and flamboyant hairstyles and clothes. She emphasized the difference in fashion between the two countries, saying, "Hairstyles are different, and Koreans seem to prefer a neat, tidy look, and their clothing style seems to be like Uniqlo. But many Japanese men dress more distinctively and flamboyantly."

The interviewer analyzed that in Japanese culture, when it's difficult to express emotions directly through words, there's a tendency to express them instead through fashion or external appearance. This can be linked to ways of expressing emotions or individuality through flamboyant styles, such as Japan's 'Gyaru' culture.

Because of a cultural background where direct emotional expression is difficult, external elements are used as a means to vicariously express emotions. The interviewer explained, "I felt that because I couldn't express my emotions or feelings directly with words, I tended to express them through fashion or such appearances."

Ms. Nanase cited Coupang delivery and food delivery services as the biggest reasons why it's difficult to give up living in Korea. She expressed her satisfaction with Korea's overwhelming convenience in daily life, saying, "Shipping, Coupang, and delivery. These two are the biggest for me."

She explained that in Japan, item delivery often takes a minimum of two days to a week, and it's more common to buy fresh food directly from supermarkets rather than having it delivered. She emphasized that Korea's fast and convenient shipping and delivery system is incomparably superior to Japan's.

Ms. Nanase explained that Korean delivery workers are closer to the concept of self-employed individuals than salarymen. She stated, "Most of these people are ultimately self-employed, rather than salarymen," adding that they operate on a performance-based structure where income is earned based on delivery volume.

This system means that a delivery driver's income is determined by how many deliveries they make, so there is an autonomous choice: if you want to earn a moderate amount, you work moderately; if you want to earn a lot, you work hard. While this may raise issues of labor intensity, it also means a structure where one can increase income through their own efforts.

This suggests that the MBTI culture, which originated in Korea, is influencing young people in Japan across borders.