Japan Info Swap Blog

Japan is a highly-structured and traditional society that places great importance on politeness and process. Many interactions in Japan are governed by socially-agreed-upon “best practices” — and following these standardized formats is the best way to get by in Japan. A failure to follow basic Japanese etiquette is one reason why many Japanese people find dealing with foreigners daunting or difficult.

In short, Japanese people never know what a foreigner is going to do, which adds stress to interactions. It takes a lifetime …