Why Japanese People Ignore Unread Messages

Japanese people are looking at their mobile phones (Image by freepik)

In the digital era, messages coming into mobile phones are often an important aspect of everyday life. However, a phenomenon that may sound strange to many people is the Japanese habit of ignoring or not immediately responding to incoming messages. 

Many wonder why many Japanese people tend to leave their messages as unread. Let's explore some of the reasons behind this habit.

Japanese people don't know how to respond

First of all, it is important to understand the communication culture in Japan. Japanese culture highly values politeness and etiquette in communication. Often, there is social pressure to provide an appropriate and proper response. In this context, if someone receives a message and is not able to provide an adequate response, they may choose not to read it at all.

This is a way to avoid a response that could be considered rude or inappropriate. By keeping the message as unread, they feel no obligation to respond until they are ready.

There are times when Japanese people don't know what to say or how to reply, so they take time to write a message. Also, there are times when Japanese people are too naive to mark as read because they are worried that it will have a bad impact if they don't reply to their message after reading it.

Japanese People Are Busy

Illustration of a man using a cell phone

It is also worth considering the value of time and priorities in Japanese society. Japan is known as a country with a fast and intense work rhythm. Many Japanese people work long hours, so their time is very valuable.

In such a situation, they may prefer not to open the message unless they actually have time to give it their full attention. Ignoring the message as unread becomes a kind of time management. They would rather not open the message than rush to give a response that may not be satisfactory to the sender.

Japanese people are meeting someone

There are times when Japanese people worry that it would be impolite to take out their smartphones to check messages when out with friends or at a drinking party with business associates or superiors, so they will ignore messages as unread.

This often happens among Japanese people who think that they can't take the time to respond even though they meet someone. Besides, they want to appreciate the time they have with the person they meet.

Japanese people are tired

When Japanese people are tired, sometimes they don't even have the energy to reply to LINE. Even if you notice a LINE message coming, they might be asleep, so even if it's a loved one, they can't reply and the message ends up going unread.

The Japanese are worried about retaliating

There is also an emotional aspect to consider. The Japanese are known to be cautious about expressing their feelings. They often do not want to disappoint others with answers that may be considered inappropriate or not wholehearted. 

In many cases, when they feel they cannot provide an adequate response, they prefer not to reply at all. In Japanese culture, which values social harmony highly, ignoring messages can be a way to keep the peace and avoid unpleasant situations.

There are also cases when the message received is difficult to respond to, such as talking to yourself or asking for a date, so the message is ignored as unread. It could be that Japanese people use the technique of looking at notifications to avoid reading them.

Your conversation is buried or deleted

There is a possibility that Japanese people receive messages from many people and your conversation is buried. This is an unconscious state so that the message you sent is not read. Find out if the person you are messaging is the type of person who has many friends. There are also cases where they uninstall LINE without reading the message, update and lose data, or delete the entire conversation.

The Japanese let it happen on purpose

The Japanese may feel that waiting or not responding right away can make the interaction feel more fun and mysterious. It is a more relaxed approach to communication, and may be a way for them to maintain a positive mood in the interaction.

Japanese people may sometimes believe in love psychology techniques such as If you reply right away, people will think you are boring or Don't reply right away and leave her alone to make her feel that way. However, in the end, honesty is what people prefer over tactics.

Japanese people are not interested

Japanese people are not interested in the person who sent the message, and the message is low priority, so it is not read. In the worst case, they do not need to reply to the message.

You are blocked by Japanese people 

Another possibility is that you are blocked by a Japanese person. If you are blocked, your messages will not reach the recipient and will not be marked as read.

It is also worth noting that technology plays a significant role in this practice. Many messaging apps used in Japan offer features that allow users to read messages without having to indicate that they have read them. 

This gives users the freedom to manage their messages as they wish. In this case, ignoring messages as unread has become easier and more common among Japanese people.

However, it is undeniable that this custom can be confusing or frustrating for people from other cultures that place more emphasis on direct communication and quick responses. For example, if someone from a Western country sends a message to a Japanese friend and does not receive a response within a reasonable amount of time, they may feel ignored or unimportant. This shows how cultural differences can affect the way people interact and understand each other.

While this phenomenon may seem strange or even frustrating to some, it is important to see it as part of the richness of Japanese culture. Every culture has its own way of communicating, and understanding the context behind the action can help us better appreciate these differences. For the Japanese, ignoring a message as unread is not a sign of indifference, but rather a reflection of deep cultural values regarding politeness, time, and emotion.

Conclusion 

In closing, it is important to remember that every culture has its own unique way of communicating. The Japanese habit of ignoring messages as unread is the result of a complex interaction of social values, psychology, and technology. 

By understanding and respecting these differences, we can build better bridges of communication and respect for each other, regardless of the cultural differences that exist. An appreciation of different cultures will broaden our horizons and enrich our experiences of interaction in everyday life.