workshops work 349 - Facilitation in Japan: Silence, Safety, and Subtlety with Yuko Gendo
Silence is a virtue, and nowhere is this more deeply understood than in Japan. A pause rich with meaning, where thoughts are carefully explored, emotions are quiet, and things are said, without any words at all.
So, how do facilitators hold space amidst the subtlety? Facilitator, workshop designer, and coach, Yuko Gendo invites us into the beautifully unique world of Japanese facilitation this week, as a practice shaped by deep respect, harmony, and quiet reflection.
She shares how non-verbal cues can soften emotional expression, how consensus forms through alignment, not debate, and together we compare our cultural experiences as two facilitators from opposite sides of the world. Join us!
Find out about:
- The cultural values of silence, hierarchy and emotional restraint, and their role in Japanese facilitation
- How Yuko navigates the tension between group harmony and individual expression
- The use of indirect expressions through cards, visuals and metaphor, in place of direct speach
- What Western facilitators can learn from their Japanese counterparts
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Links:
Watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube.
Connect to Yuko Gendo:
Share your thoughts about our conversation!
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