Japan manners

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 to master the nearly limitless “best practices” that govern social and professional interactions. Most Japanese people know this, and will give you the benefit of the doubt, but learning the “right way” to do things will make things much smoother for you and them. Simply attempting to do your best will usually garner a lot of goodwill. Here are a few basics of etiquette in Japan to get you started! Tipping Tipping is not a part of the culture in Japan. There is absolutely no expectation from waiters, taxi drivers, hotel porters, etc. that customers will give tips. In fact, attempting to give a tip will most likely lead to embarrassment on the part of the recipient, as well as refusal to…