Kuuki wo yomu (Reading the air) – how to understand Japanese social relations and why it is better to give up on it
Reading the air is a basic element of Japanese social relations and a local equivalent of the phrase “to read between the lines“. It applies to business situations as well as casual meetings and random encounters that happen every day. Kuuki wo yomu is an ability to predict the consequences of words said or actions taken when interacting with others...