To me, the Japanese concept of "tatemae to honne" is just about lying to each other. Isn't it overly superficial? What about sincerity? I know it's about being considerate of others' feelings, but I still don't really like it.
建前は「嘘」と誤解されがちですが、それは「嘘」のように「人を騙そうとするもの」ではなく「相手との意見の相違を、相手に不快感を与えず伝えるための手段の一つ」だと私は考えています。討論することを敬遠しがちな日本人が、円滑に物事を進めていけるようにと根付いた文化だと思います。
The concept of "Tatemae" tends to be misunderstood as lying. But I think it's not lying in the sense of deceiving others, but rather as a way of respecting others' differences in opinion without making them uncomfortable. It's a cultural aspect stemming from how Japanese people tend to avoid arguments in favor of keeping the peace.
