1.Small talks
世間話
It is said that it is a good idea to choose light topics to create an atmosphere, instead of saying what you want to say. In order to have a conversation that suits the other person, it is important to be interested in the other person.

At first, it's a good idea to talk about something you can talk about with anyone. Examples of topics: weather, recent news, traffic conditions. In particular, Japan's climate and natural conditions, which change with the four seasons are often a topic for conversation.

There are also examples of topics that are not desirable for small talk. For example, religion, politics, physical characteristics, age, marital status, badmouthing and gossip about other people.

In Japan, it is considered very rude to ask someone's age when you meet them for the first time. People may think you're strange or get annoyed. It is also best not to ask questions such as whether people are married/unmarried, and whether they have children. Be careful if you ask questions that may be interpreted as sexual harassment or power harassment.

2. Receiving directions
案内を受ける
When you're walking down a hallway or in an elevator, you feel uncomfortable if you're silent. Especially inside the elevator in a closed room. The silence when you are alone with someone in a small space can feel suffocating. To lighten the mood, it's a good idea to have some light chit-chat. However, if there are other people already on the elevator, please refrain from making any comments as this may cause a nuisance to others.

3. Foreigners’ strengths
外国人の強み
Japanese language skills can also be a topic of small talk. When someone says, 日本語が上手です。(“Your Japanese is good”), you can not only humbly say, いえいえ、まだです。(“No, I'm not quite there yet”), but you can also expand the conversation about learning Japanese. In addition, you can expand the conversation to include things like your country of origin, when you came to Japan, and why you came to Japan. There are small talk that only foreigners can do, so use it to your advantage.

4. Mental health
心の健康
Talking about things outside of work gives you an opportunity to talk about the problems and concerns you have in your daily life. This also has the effect of building mental health. Chatting plays a role in improving interpersonal relationships and communication in the company. Make effective use of the small amount of time you have between arriving at work in the morning, during breaks such as lunch breaks, and on the way to your client's office.

What topics do you use for small talks? Share in the comments!