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Examples
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In this country, our driving ambition to succeed often causes us to state "tatemae," saying what is expected, rather than "honto."
Jack Myers: Job and Career Realities Echo from 1993 With Even Greater Relevance. Classic Jack 2009
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The truth is essentially cast out to media limbo, while the tatemae facade remains the most legitimate narrative of how Japan works.
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Since this post and this comment in particular has been linked to by a major tech blog, I feel I should mention this: I think the phrase you are looking for is tatemae vs. honne.
Néojaponisme » Blog Archive » The Fear… of the Internet 2009
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I suspect this is less about tatemae/honne than a digital attempt to salvage the uchi/soto relationship: all of her friends know what her nickname is, and she theirs, but all have the option of not letting outsiders know specifically who they are.
Néojaponisme » Blog Archive » The Fear… of the Internet 2009
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In Japan, there is an important distinction between what one says (tatemae,public talk) and what is left unsaid—usually, what one really means (honne,private thoughts).
Sea of Thunder Evan Thomas 2006
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In Japan, there is an important distinction between what one says (tatemae,public talk) and what is left unsaid—usually, what one really means (honne,private thoughts).
Sea of Thunder Evan Thomas 2006
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In Japan, there is reality (honne) and appearance (tatemae).
Japan's Selloff Just A Speed Bump Carl Delfeld 2006
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This allows, in his opinion, Japan to have a pop culture where the extremes are much more extreme and anarchic than anything we have in the West, but at the same time there is an implied understanding that these entertainments are aimed at the "honne" and should not become "tatemae".
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Ian Buruma has a lot of problems but his book "Behind the Mask" describes the difference in Japanese society behind one's private feelings and opinions "honne" and one's public persona "tatemae".
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It also leads me to think that public apologies from Japanese leaders over Nanjing, comfort women, etc. reflect only “tatemae” and not “honne” and from an American perspective that makes the apologies rather hollow.
memphismaven commented on the word tatemae
Tatemae (建�?, Tatemae?), literally "façade," is the behaviour and opinions one displays in public. Tatemae is what is expected by society and required according to one's position and circumstances, and these may or may not match one's honne.
See wikipedia
December 11, 2008