From: hiraga@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Yuzuru Hiraga)
Subject: Re: Humor in Japan [ENGLISH]
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Distribution: fj
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 22:21:03 GMT

In article <3650@aegis.or.jp> barker@aegis.or.jp (Mike Barker) writes:
>I think that it is a good rule for visiting gaijin to avoid jokes, simply
>because they don't understand when a joke is appropriate, or what kind
>of jokes. 

Not quite.  Good jokes are, after all, universal.

>The real problem is that I'm still not sure when you can tell a joke,
>and which ones are funny here.  I do know that making jokes and laughing
>are considered part of the gaijin's character.
>
>For example, an American standard ice-breaker for starting speeches or
>presentations is a joke.  Every time I've seen someone try that here, it
>has been a very bad idea.
>
>Anyway, I'd be interested in your observations about humor in Japan -
>jokes, laughter, puns, whatever.  Why is it different than America?  Is
>it just language problems, or are there more basic differences that make

Some practical tips for telling a joke:

* Make your audience prepared.
  An American audience is by default all ears for hearing a joke.
  A Japanese audience is not necessarily so.
  If you start a speech (in a relatively formal setting) with a joke,
  but with no clues that one might be coming, then the audience may
  be confused of whether to take it as a joke or not.
* Assure them that it's not impolite to laugh out loud, that you are
  expecting and begging for it, and even that it's polite to laugh
  at jokes (even if they're lame :-).
  A typical reaction after a speech (though this may be a folklore):
  "I thought your talk was very funny, so I had a hard time trying
  not to giggle."
* Avoid jokes that are offensive, aggressive, or sarcastic.
* If speaking in English, avoid jokes that depend on certain characteristics
  of the language (eg. puns), subtle understanding of them, or topics
  that require background knowledge (eg. don't expect reaction to a
  potatoE joke.  In that sense, I'm not sure whether Disney's Aladdin --
  i.e. Robin Williams' genie, will have good acceptance).
  Look for topics that the audience can sympathize on.

Some suggestions:
Make faces.  Use exaggerated action.  Use funny intonation (occasionally).
Drastically change your style when you are about to give a joke.
But don't overdo so that you might be considered as a twit. Have restraint.
Leave a pause after a joke.  Wait for reactions.  Wait enough
so that the audience may feel a bit uneasy and have no other choice
but to laugh.  If they don't, show you're disappointed -- make yourself
look sad, but never seem being offended, or be critical.  Try "explaining"
the joke.  Do this persistently, until it catches on (persistent
repetition of a pattern always receives good reaction at the end).
Encourage any laughter that may occur ("I'm so happy that you laughed";
"I'm glad that I have a laughing audience").  Even conduct the audience
into laughing (eg. "my script says "(laughter)" here") -- but again,
don't overdo.  Give the impression that you are under their mercy.
Look for typical joke patterns (eg. in TV shows) and use them as a starter.

If this doesn't work, blame yourself :-)

-YH
Newsgroups: fj.life.in-japan