“Mandatory silence”. In Japan, business adapts to people who no longer tolerate any interaction;

Japan is famous for its anime, manga and high technology. But also the land where solitude is king. Indeed, there will be more and more people living alone. Based on this observation, some businesses have started offering services where social interaction is reduced or even completely absent. This innovative ‘silent business’ model allows anyone, whether they live alone or not, to use services without having to interact with staff. Hair salons in Tokyo were among the first to integrate this new type of service. Hair Works Credo salon offers its clients the desired level of conversation to choose when scheduling appointments. They can choose between casual conversation, minimal exchange, or service without any verbal exchange. This last option is advantageous in six out of ten cases, therefore, in the majority. “In 2014, no other barber shop in Japan offered this unique option,” recalls salon owner Takahiro Noguchi. Japan Times . “At first I thought I catered exclusively to introverts, but over the years I’ve realized that some people just want to have a day to themselves. (…) They are on their smartphone, working on a laptop, wearing headphones, reading a book, looking in the mirror or just listening to the gentle sound of scissors.”

In an April survey by Japan’s Hot Pepper Beauty Academy, 52.9% of 2,000 respondents (salon customers aged 20 to 49) said they would rather sit in silence than talk on a date. Most of them (43.5%) say that they do not like counterattacks because they are not good and they feel forced.

Coffee without words

The trend hasn’t escaped some ready-to-wear brands anyway. In Japan, clothing brand Urban Research allows its customers to indicate their preference using special shopping bags. Those who choose a transparent blue bag say that they prefer not to contact sellers, and those who prefer a colorless bag can get advice. This initiative has resonated with consumers. about 10% of them now use the blue bag to avoid the stress that interacting with staff can cause.

As for restaurants, the same. At Kura Sushi, a major Japanese sushi chain, ordering is done entirely via smartphone by scanning a QR code, and the sushi is delivered directly to the table on a conveyor belt. So the customer can dine without interacting with the staff. The concept has been taken even further in some cafes, where silence is literally enforced. The rule of speech is strictly prohibited in one of the cafes in Osaka. Upon entry, customers receive a card asking them not to speak. If communication is absolutely necessary, then it is carried out through petroglyphs. “The devices can also display content in English, eliminating communication issues,” said Akihiro Tsuji, a spokesman for Kura Sushi, who is still at the company. Japan Times. So many new rules, which are especially appreciated in a country where social pressure is strong and where individualism is increasingly important.