Job Discussion Forums

[Cool Teacher]

[SeasonedVet]

The behaviours the OP alluded to are not limited to students. It can be seen everyday (cultural).
Adults do this as well.
You can see this on game shows and variety shows.

I think it happens moreso in Osaka than anywhere else (a guesstimate) . Students in Osaka are always the comedian and entertainer during lessons and topics often change. Teachers do it as well.

The changing of topics can aslo be done for other reasons as TokyoLiz pointed out about the "vertical society" and "amai"
It is also about
Indirectness-(indirect is how a lot of communication is done here) ( I have had a number of experiences where I would go with a Japanese firend to the bank or ward office to do some business which would call for long explanations by the staff. At the end of it all when I would ask my friend "so what did he say...my friend would sometimes reply "Wakaran"
And generally people here tend to communicate like that, go off topic to other topics.
If you have ever gone out with your Japanese workmates to restaurants or Izakayas you might have noticed that.

Students are just doing what they see everybody else in society doing and what they see on TV. It is how they are socialized.

[kanjizai]

[quote="SeasonedVet"]
Students are just doing what they see everybody else in society doing and what they see on TV. It is how they are socialized.[/quote]

Agreed. Im not just not in to prevarication.