So-So Japanese

There is one thing that you'd better to know.

Japanese reply opposite way against negative question.

For example, in case you know that a Japanese man decided no to go somewhere, and when you ask him to confirm,

"Don't you really go there?"

You would be surprise since his reply must be,

"Yes"

But please be careful. He doesn't change his mind.

Since it is true that "You don't go", he replies "Yes". Thus, he still won't go.

Nothing for me?

Another actual example is my case that, when I worked US office, FedEx man came to pick up and asked me "Nothing for me?". Since there was nothing to sent and it was true that "nothing for him", I replied to him "Yes".

Of course he asked to me, "Where is it?"

It is because that this is a way of reply against negative question in most of Japan. It doesn't depends if he or she can speak fluent English. It just depends on how familiar with a negative question and how long he or she lives outside of Japan.

Conclusion

Please be careful when you ask negative question to Japanese.

I strongly recommend to confirm the fact when you got unexpected reply.
Then please try not to use it next time.

This is our hope...