In Japan, there is a culture of punctuality more than in foreign countries.
For example, Japanese rail companies make an announcement of apology on the train if their trains run behind schedule, and we are forced to be there 10 minutes before and be ready 5 minutes before the appointment.
On the other hand, I would say, some foreigners are always late. It seems my foreign friend was told off because his late.
If you say it’s a cultural gap, it is limited. but that culture means to care deeply about your friend, so you should show your attitude that appreciation and love rather than words. A person who asks the other person to be punctual is the same as shouting I want you to take good care of me. My love for you let me get angry with you.
However, it’s not good for you to scold somebody without hearing his side of the story. You must calmly and wholeheartedly lay out your reasons for your thoughts. That’s not just a culture of punctuality.
In Japan, there is a culture of punctuality, that is more developed than in foreign countries.
For example, Japanese railway companies make an announcement of apology at the train stations even if the train is running 5 minutes behind the schedule.
On the other hand, I would say, some foreigners are always late. It seems that my foreign friend was told off because he was late.
You may say that there's a cultural gap between Japan and, let's say, European countries, and you won't be wrong. But the Japanese business culture itself stands for caring about people you make business with, even including your close friends and family. Actions
日本では海外以上に時間厳守の文化が根強いと考えられる。
例えば、電車が数分遅れただけでもお詫びのアナウンスがあるし、会議に到着するのは5分前でも少し遅いと言われることすらある。
一方外国人の中には時間に対してルーズな人もたまにいる。先日は、少し時間が遅れただけで日本人から叱られたようだ。
これは文化的なギャップといえばそれまでかもしれない。しかし、時間を守るということは目の前の人を大切に思っている精神の現れといえよう。感謝や愛は言葉で表すだけでは不十分である。「時間を守ってほしい」という日本人は、言い換えると「私を大切にして」と叫んでいるようなものである。愛しているが故の怒りなのだ。
しかし、一方的に激怒するのは良くないことであろう。相手の文化も尊重しつつ、なぜ自分がこの文化を大切にするのかを冷静に愛情を持って伝える必要がある。これは時間を守ることに限った話ではない。