natural speed please
I think that Japanese people are not naturally takative. In particular, we often leave out explanations and reasons.
Yesterday, I was eating lunch with an American. While I was listening to her talk, I noticed that misunderstandings easily arose between my friend and her Japanese friends.
She gave me an example when she was kind of upset with a Japanese man, who is around 25 years old.
One day she was eating lunch with that man and some other friends in a restaurant. She kindly told them that she would drive them to their homes after lunch.
Just after leaving the restaurant, she wanted to smoke outside the restaurant before getting into her car. She pulled a cigarette out of her bag, and asked them to wait for a while.
The young man quickly said to her, "Don't smoke."
She took offense because she thought that he was rude.
Judging his behavior, I'm sure he was appeared blunt and rude. However, as I know what kind of person he is, I can guess why he said what he said; he was worried about her health.
Conversation among Japanese people (though I don't know whether it can properly be called conversation) is to offer up only a word or a short phrase, which often has tacit understanding. However, I think it might cause misunderstandings for people from different cultures, like the example above.
He should have explained why he did not want her to smoke.
That's what I thought after hearing her talk about her feelings. She simply took his word as a crass order toward an older lady.
Maybe you can understand her feelings, yes?
Sorry, I tried to upload a louder file and put it on the wrong page. >_<