はらをわってはなす

　　ここをクリックして下さい。

部下：部長、この間の件ですが、みんな会議ではなかなか本音が出せないようですね。
部長：そうか。それでは席をかえて話し合おうじゃないか。その方がみんな腹をわって話せるだろう。


Buka: Bucho, kono aida no ken desu ga, minna kaigi de wa naka-naka honne ga dasenai yo desu ne.
Bucho: Soo ka. Sore dewa seki wo kaete hanashi aooja nai ka. Sono hoo ga minna hara wo watte hanaseru daroo.

* * *

Talk "heart to heart"

Subordinate: About that matter the other day. We didn't get far in the meeting as no one seemed willing to get down to brass tacks.
Chief: I see. Well it might be better to move the meeting somewhere else. Then people will feel freer to say what's really on their minds.

* * *

Japanese companies hold very frequent meetings, sometimes taking days to come to a decision; much to the irritation of businessmen from overseas, it seems.
Another reason for the delay may be the reluctance, or inability, of particpants in the meeting to give expression to their real feelings. If such a situation arises, a wise chief may suggest "a change to seat" ("seki wo kaeru"), i.e. going to a bar to continue discussions there. He knows that the atmosphere, and the alcohol, will encourage people to speak freely, or "heart to heart," although it is the "hara," not the "heart" that is involved in Japanese.