Honorific Title and Power Distance in Japanese Companies in Wakayama Japan

In this study, the writer would discuss about the phenomenon of using Yakushokumeishoo as a part of honorifics (keigo) structure in Japanese that is seen with power distance concept for communication in Japanese companies. What is meant by Keigo is the polite way of delivering language, or polite language, while an honorific, in general, is communicatioh language system that shows politeness, respect and low-profile. The writer limited this research on the discussion about the phenomenon of the use of Yakushokumeishoo and Keigo as a part of honorifics structure that is seen with the concept of power distance in the communication applied in some Japanese companies, used by the employees of Japanese companies in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. From the questionnaire, the result showed that the greeting form used by the employees toward their superior is in the form of structural greeting, family name + san. This result showed that there have been changes on the use of greeting form toward superior in Japan, from the use of structural greeting to the common greeting, "-san." This greeting form does not affect to the emotional distance from the employees toward the superior. Japanese employees can express their opinion and disagreement to their superior by using the common greeting form. On the other hand, there is also a respondent that used common greeting form which is family name + san but they are not able to express their opinion and disagreement to their superior.