Exploring the New Trend of Japanese Young People’s’ One Stop Email Exchange ‘

What is’ one-time email correspondence ‘?

We have all had the experience of asking others to handle something, but being rejected to some extent. If rejected in an email, would you send another email thanking the other party for taking the time to reply? Or just ended the communication?

Recently, an increasing number of young people in Japanese society have chosen not to reply to emails, a behavior known as’ email correspondence once ‘, which has sparked widespread discussion.

Email correspondence “, as the name suggests, refers to the termination of email communication when someone requests something through email and is refused by the other party. No further thank-you emails or follow-up contacts will be sent. This behavior is considered extremely rude in the eyes of many older professionals in the workplace.

The Conflict between Tradition and Modernity: Changes in Email Etiquette

Traditional practice: Etiquette for email correspondence

According to traditional workplace etiquette, even if rejected, a brief email should be sent to thank the other party for their response, in order to maintain a good relationship for possible future cooperation. This form of communication is called “email exchange once and a half”, which means to show politeness and respect even after being rejected.

Oppose the ‘one-time email correspondence’ movement

Many middle-aged and above office workers express that email correspondence should continue, and even if rejected, they should express gratitude. They believe that further email communication can deepen trust, maintain relationships, and prepare for future opportunities for cooperation. This approach is not only a manifestation of politeness, but also a part of professional spirit.

Reasons for supporting the ‘one-time email exchange policy’

However, young people who support the “one-time email correspondence” policy believe that this approach is more efficient and does not waste time. They pointed out that they don’t know how many times to reply to each email exchange, which is very chaotic and time-consuming. Moreover, the other party may not want to be disturbed by another email, just one exchange is enough.

Why is the “email correspondence” trend rising among Generation Z?

Communication habits of Generation Z

Career consulting firms say that for Generation Z, not responding to emails already means they “understand” themselves. Generation Z has been accustomed to using short and efficient instant messaging tools since childhood, such as chat apps, which do not require lengthy writing and do not inherit the tradition of letters. Therefore, they don’t think there’s anything wrong with exchanging emails once.

Different understandings of emails

Due to their emphasis on simplicity and efficiency in communication, Generation Z believes that not replying to emails is a reasonable and natural choice. In addition, many young people believe that as long as the matter is rejected, there is no need to send extra emails. This mentality has led to the widespread dissemination and acceptance of the “one-of-a-kind email correspondence”.

How to balance email etiquette and efficiency?

Advice from a Business Etiquette Consultant

To avoid conflicts in etiquette and ensure communication efficiency, business etiquette consultants suggest that when sending business emails, if there is really no need for the other party to reply, you can indicate “no need to reply” at the end of the email. 80% of people will feel very grateful when they see this note. However, it should be noted that such annotations may also lead to the other party being hesitant to reply when they have questions, which can actually cause communication barriers.

Appropriate email response strategy

The business etiquette consultant also suggests that in order to let the other party know that you have received the email or avoid them mistakenly thinking that you have ignored it, it is best to adopt the principle of “email correspondence once and a half”. This means that even if rejected, a brief reply expressing gratitude can avoid leaving a bad impression. Of course, if it is known that the other party does not like multiple email exchanges, it is another matter.

Clever balance between etiquette and efficiency

In the era of rapid information change, it is worth exploring how to improve communication efficiency while preserving traditional etiquette. For young people, while improving efficiency is important, appropriate politeness and respect cannot be ignored. For the older generation of professionals in the workplace, understanding and accepting the communication methods and habits of the new generation is also a topic.

The emergence of “email correspondence” is the result of the collision of old and new cultures, reflecting the development of society and changes in people’s concepts. Regardless of the approach, the most important thing is to maintain respect and understanding in communication, find a way that is comfortable for both parties, and achieve effective communication.

By understanding each other’s positions and needs, perhaps we can find a better balance between etiquette and efficiency, making communication more harmonious and efficient.