Kyoto Speaks out: How the International Tourists Are Changing the Way of Communication Patterns and the Social Discourse of the People of Kyoto

Famous world heritage sites fascinate international tourists and they fully indulge themselves in exotic sceneries and extraordinary experiences. Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is not an exception. Kyoto-jin, as Kyoto natives call themselves, are often observed, as if they are staff in a theme park, if not props, by the tourists. They should be seen, not heard.

But now, Kyoto-jin are speaking out and insist to be heard. The excessive tourists increase the problems and the issues of sustainable tourism not only from the quantitative aspects but also from the qualitative aspects.

This presentation aims to prove that the growing number of international tourists and the consequences of the frequent usage of English are not only changing the diction of speech, but also the social discourse and the way of life of Kyoto-jin. Tourists have been innocently rambling around the city, not only at specific sightseeing spots but to the habitats of Kyoto-jin. Now Kyoto faces a dilemma. Living in the city which heavily relies on the tourism industry; Kyoto-jin would like to entertain the tourists but at the same time, they want to protect their privacy and retain their traditional ways.

　 In The Silent Language (1959), Hall argued that Japanese communication style is high-context. Among Japanese, Kyoto-jin are known to have one of the most highly fabricated communication styles, which even other Japanese find hard to comprehend. The very beauty of the art of communication is not to express what they desire but let others detect their needs.

But this communication pattern has become difficult to function. As a result, in an unexpected way, by using, mainly English, Kyoto-jin have found voices to express themselves in which they have never expressed in Japanese language before. Kyoto-jin are now experiencing the transition from high-context to low-context culture communication patterns.