I. Introduction – Silence Stepping Through the Door
Sometimes it's not enough to see a country — you must feel it. When you take your first step in Japan, it seems as though there is no sound. People speak, trains pass, shops open — but you hear no noise.
Because in Japan, silence is not just the absence of sound — it's a rule, a feeling, a philosophy, an etiquette, perhaps even a prayer. Here, silence replaces words. A Japanese person won’t say "I’m sorry," but will simply stand still and bow — silence speaks.
II. The Tea Ceremony – The Taste of Stillness
Speaking during a tea ceremony is considered inappropriate. Everything — the boiling of the kettle, the turning of the cup, the dissolving of the green powder into water, merging with the soul — is not music, it is ritual. Here, silence is poured into the tea, and you taste it.
If in Azerbaijan silence is a deep breath during prayer, in Japan it is the sound of acceptance, of surrender.
III. Shinto Temples – Worship Among Trees
In the heart of Tokyo, the Meiji Shrine lies just a step away from the noise of the city. As you enter, people stop talking. The sound of shoes, the rustling of bamboo leaves, the scent of damp soil — these are the sounds within the silence.
A person does not worship — they listen to their soul.
Sometimes, there is no need for prayer — standing silently is enough.
IV. Why Talking on a Train Is Rude in Japan
When you try to talk on the phone in a Japanese train, the glances from others silently warn you: sound has no place here. It's not a law — it's a moral code. Silence is the sound of respect for others.
It’s as if every person holds even their breath inside, just not to disturb anyone else. In this way, silence in Japan is not the language of the individual — but of society.
V. Haiku – Infinity in Three Lines
Japanese poetry has haiku — just 3 lines, 17 syllables. But those three lines speak of a lifetime. They capture the end of winter, the hope of spring, the emptiness inside a person — in a single breath.
What is haiku?
The moment when words are no longer needed.
In other words — the poetry of silence.
VI. “Sumimasen” – Silence Behind the Word
The most common word in Japan is “sumimasen.” It means "excuse me," "I'm sorry," "please," — but behind it lies a culture.
With this word comes a pause — a silence.
As if to say: "I understand you. And that is enough."
VII. Conclusion – The Japan Inside You
Did you ask yourself while reading this: “How does silence sound within me?”
In Japan, silence is not worship, not fear, not muteness.
It is being.
If the soul does not want to speak — then the body should remain silent.
Maybe in Japan, silence doesn’t sound at all. It is not silence — it is the sound of peace.
And finally, a question:
What does your silence say?
Leave a comment — when does your soul go quiet in this noisy world?