For people from cultures that are used to a linear, point-by-point style, Japanese presentations can seem convoluted and hard to follow. Understanding the various cultural influences can help you follow the seemingly tedious, roundabout, even illogical style. The main factors are:
1. The custom of presenting information from general to specific.
2. The partiality for visual illustrations.
3. The desire to see how things relate to each other in a holistic manner.
1. The Japanese traditional style of moving from general to specific determines the order in which the information is delivered. It may, however, mean that you find yourself sitting through a long overview, explanations of reasoning, vaguely related information, and drifting through a great deal of big-picture, contextual information before you even understand the presentation’s main purpose. This can certainly test your patience if you approach it with a “let’s get to the point” attitude.
It might help you to think of a Japanese presentation as a novelette. First, you need to understand the setting and characters, how the setting affects the characters, and how the characters relate to each other. This may help give you patience while the scene is being set. It also may help you understand why one point isn't necessarily linked to the next in a linear-logic way. Relax, listen closely to the narrative as it sets the stage, and take notes on points you didn’t already know and/or seem like they might be relevant.
2. The next issue is the Japanese preference for seeing things depicted visually rather than through a string of words. Think of the added impression and importance that illustrations give a story, especially if you want the image to be clear and not open to (mis)interpretation. Thinking in terms of a narrative, the value of many visuals makes more sense.
But beyond this, there is simply a deep propensity for visuals in Japan. If you ask someone for directions there, it’s common for them to draw you a map that visually shows you your path rather than just tell you what to do first, second and third in a linear way. It’s no coincidence that emojis come from Japan and that many serious topics are covered in manga-style books. In presentations, however, it means slides may be populated with pictures, charts, graphs, and anything else that can make a visual impression.
3. The desire to see how things relate to each other affects how much information will be included in the presentation and how many bits of information will be incorporated in any given slide. Because of the need for context, a great deal of peripheral information is often included. This adds a lot of secondary information that provides a larger perspective or framework. From this vantage point, something may look different than when considered in isolation. And when it comes to seeing how everything fits together, it all needs to be included on one slide whenever possible.
Coupled with number two above, this need to show interrelationships, points to the reason why Japanese slides tend to be populated with dozens of charts and pictures, as well as words, making most Americans’ eyes glaze over. To deal with the visual overload, don’t try to take in everything on the slide at once. Go for the main theme, the headings, then the details of each part.
Again, think of it as a story: look at the setting (the context), the characters (the various elements), their relationship to each other, and the plot action (the process that makes it all work together). Accept the intuitive leaps for the time being; there will be a time to come back with questions after you have processed the whole thing.
If you've received a hard copy of ther presentation and a particular slide seems like you can't see the forest for the trees, put your finger over the pictures and look at just the words. A picture can be worth 1,000 words, but when you have 30 words and 20 pictures on a slide, the jumble of words and pictures may make it feel as overwhelming as 10,000 words!
by Diana Rowland, author Japanese Busines: Rules of Engagement
Also see: Four Tips for Giving Presentations to Japanese
