What are appropriate topics for Japanese workplace small talk
Appropriate topics for small talk in a Japanese workplace generally include safe, neutral subjects such as the weather, food, hobbies (with cultural sensitivity), recent activities, and local culture. Discussing the weather is a very common and safe way to initiate conversation, for example, mentioning if it is hot or rainy. Food is also a popular topic, like commenting on restaurant experiences or new dishes, but direct criticisms are avoided. Hobbies can be touched upon by asking what someone has been into lately rather than directly asking about their hobbies, which may feel too personal. Other suitable topics include recent events or activities, travel, and cultural traditions, and it is advised to keep conversation light without delving into personal or controversial areas such as politics, religion, or deeply personal matters.
In the workplace context specifically, sticking to topics like work-related subjects, food, and general cultural matters are safe, while topics like politics, sports, religion, and personal life should be avoided. It is also common to start conversations with neutral, general questions rather than direct inquiries about someone’s private life. Compliments should be used sparingly and reserved for colleagues one knows well.
Summarizing typical Japanese workplace small talk topics:
- Weather (e.g., “It’s hot today,” “It’s been raining a lot”)
- Food and drinks (restaurants, new dishes)
- Recent activities or interesting incidents
- Local or seasonal cultural events (e.g., cherry blossom season)
- Hobbies in a less direct way (e.g., “What have you been into lately?”)
- Work-related topics
- Avoid politics, sports, religion, and probing personal questions
This approach ensures polite, comfortable conversation that respects Japanese social norms around workplace communication and personal boundaries. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7