Finally, brief mention should be made of two other Etiquette system
norms: dressing and posture. Many Australian informants commented on
the formality and lack of variation in the dress of Japanese business
personnel and some of them referred to their own attempts to adjust to the
Japanese norm when on business assignments in Japan. They had thus
evaluated their regular style of dress as being inappropriate in a contact
situation - an interpretation which was proved correct in interviews with
Japanese business personnel. Whereas dressing manners are more
peripheral in the contemporary Australian politeness system, in the
Japanese culture they remain of greater importance (Neustupny 1968: 414).
Posture, including sitting styles, is a further expression of politeness
which is more central in the Japanese system. In the interviews some senior
Japanese business personnel outlined the sitting style which they considered
obligatory in formal business meetings to consist of an upright back with
feet together and arms firmly placed at one's side. They marked as
inadequate the crossing of legs, both in their own behaviour and in that of
their Australian interactants. One senior Japanese participant (J10) related
his overt correction of Australian businessmen with whom he worked in
Tokyo for their habit of crossing their legs during formal business meetings.
In the Japanese system, then, postural rules remain more central and are
characterised by a set of prescriptions which do not apply to the same
degree in the contemporary Australian cultural system.