How to Be Polite in Japanese

How to Be Polite in Japanese by Osamu Mizutani. Paperback edition. ISBN: 9784789003384.

The authors have set out to explain how to be polite in Japanese in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand fashion. Moving beyond a mere listing of honorific and humble forms, they explain the underlying cultural attitudes determining politeness in Japan. They stress that being fluent verbally can be perceived negatively if not accompanied by a proper consideration toward the listener as conveyed by being indirect and hesitant, not pushing oneself on the listener, and apologizing or taking blame on oneself at the appropriate time. Body language is also important, and this book tells readers how to be polite in their nonverbal as well as verbal behavior.