How do Americans regard apologies? How is apology treated in the Japanese culture? Compare the apology culture of China and Japan. Why should an individual understand cultural differences in apology? In what situation do you apologise in your culture?

Step 1: Question 2A Japanese relationships differ from US ones because in Japan it takes a while to establish personal relationships, but once established they are important for cooperation and understanding. In the US, people make friends easily but also break up easily, with conflicts resolved by apologies. In Japan, relationships take time to establish but are lasting and important; in the US, they form and end easily. Step 2: Question 2B An industrial designer of Chinese descent should apologize in English because Japanese are much less likely to translate their indirect speech styles into English when talking to foreigners and tend to speak more directly in English. Japanese speak more directly in English with foreigners. Step 3: Question 2C Blocks (a), (b