the present study examined gender differences among Japanese students in the effect of closeness on conflict regardless of conflict avoidance. we predicted that male participants would take assertive strategies in conflicts regardless of whether they were in close relationship or not, whereas female participants would take avoidance in conflicts with non-close others, but assertive strategic with close ones. 79 Japanese university students (33 males and 46 females) were assigned into one of two friend conditions (non-close condition vs. close condition). and were measured of the extent to which they took avoidance in 3 conflict situation =s (scenario). the results supported the prediction only with females, and suggested that Japanese males attempt to send non-verbal messages to close friends while taking avoidance