The question of whether Japanese really have no funny bone was tackled by pundits at a recent gathering at Kansai University.
While reportedly considered to be a humorless people by outsiders, Japanese do exchange jokes in private. Further, much humor and joking can be seen in traditional cultural performances, such as "rakugo" (comic storytelling), "kyogen" -- a form of comic drama that evolved from the same roots as noh -- and "senryu" satirical verse.
During the recent four-day meeting of the International Society for Humor Studies, the experts challenged a common belief that Japanese lack a sense of humor.
Shokichi Oda, vice president of the Japan Society for Laughter and Humor Studies, said in his presentation that the Japanese value keeping their emotions and feelings in check as part of basic manners.
"While they restrict themselves from laughing on many social occasions, they have places and occasions for laughing, such as at sake-drinking parties and cherry blossom viewing," he said.
Masumi Muramatsu, a pioneer of simultaneous interpretation in Japan, observed that Japanese do not employ humor as a lubricant in public communication, but opt to exercise it only within private, intimate circles.