Japan is a highly-structured and traditional society\u00a0that places great importance on\u00a0politeness and process. Many interactions in Japan are governed by socially-agreed-upon \u201cbest practices\u201d \u2014 and following these standardized formats is the best way to get by in Japan. A failure to follow basic Japanese etiquette is one\u00a0reason why many Japanese people find dealing with foreigners daunting or difficult.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cbest practices\u201d that govern social and professional interactions.\u00a0Most Japanese people know this, and will give you the benefit of the doubt, but learning the \u201cright way\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
Here are a few basics of\u00a0etiquette in Japan to get you started!<\/p>\n
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 accept. In general, Japanese people \u2014 no matter their profession \u2014 take great pride in what they do and do not expect an additional reward from customers.<\/p>\n
It is not usual to use first names other than with good friends. Japanese people will ordinarily address colleagues, and sometimes even their friends, by their family names. Unless you are talking to a family member or very close friend, you will need to add \u2018san\u2019 when you address someone e.g. Suzuki-san. Adding san is a form of showing respect, and it is considered rude to call somebody by their family name without doing so.<\/p>\n
If you are dealing with a Japanese person who speaks English, it is possible that he\/she will introduce him\/herself using their given name rather than the family name, in which case you can call him\/her by their first name without adding san. Note that it is incorrect to refer to yourself as san.<\/p>\n
While business etiquette is much more rigid in Japan than other countries, following a few simple rules will help you set the proper tone and demonstrate your respect for the culture. A foreigner attending a Japanese business meeting should be dressed in correct formal attire (usually a business suit and tie for a man) and should have business cards ready to exchange \u2014 these are still in wide use in Japan. A double-sided Japanese and English card particularly shows your understanding of the culture.<\/p>\n
When first meeting a business associate, you should stand, incline your head in a slight bow, and hold your name card with both hands with the written information facing the recipient. You should receive an associate\u2019s name card in the same manner, being careful to look over the card and place it on the table in front of you during the meeting. You may put the business cards that you received away at the meeting\u2019s conclusion, though it is considered rude to place them in back pockets where they may be sat upon.<\/p>\n
Generally, there is less visible dining etiquette in Japanese culture than in western countries. For example, it is perfectly acceptable in Japan to make slurping noises when eating. There are, however, some subtle rules of etiquette to be aware of. For instance, it is common to share several dishes rather than order one portion exclusively for yourself. When taking food from shared dishes with chopsticks, it is polite to turn your chopsticks around so that the part that has been in your mouth does not come into contact with the food in the dish.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also common to share the menu itself, with only one copy provided per table. Japanese hosts will immediately turn the menu around \u2014 to allow everyone else at the table to see \u2014 before considering anything themselves. Another \u201crule\u201d to be aware of is that you should not stand chopsticks in food, especially rice, as this reflects a common Japanese funeral practice. You should therefore lay your chopsticks across the rim of a dish or bowl when you wish to put them down or make use of a chopstick rest, if there is one available.<\/p>\n
When drinking with friends, colleagues, or business associates, you should not begin drinking before there has been a toast of \u201cKanpai!\u201d If there are bottles of beer or flasks of sake on the table, it is poor form to fill your own glass \u2014 the other attendees will be actively monitoring the glasses of people around them and will fill them if they notice that they are close to empty. Although this may be a difficult thing to attune yourself to at first, successfully doing so will greatly impress those around you.<\/p>\n
The border between indoors and outdoors is called genkan<\/a>. This is an entrance area where people must remove their outdoor shoes and change into indoor slippers. You\u2019ll find genkan in homes and ryokan<\/a> as well as in some historical buildings like temples and castles and even in some restaurants. It will be obvious where to change your shoes because the indoor area is elevated. In addition, the flooring is often different.<\/p>\n It\u2019s likely you\u2019ll spend quite a bit of your time in Japan on trains, as this is one of the most convenient ways to get around and see more of the country. Make sure you don\u2019t bother other passengers by following basic train etiquette. This includes speaking to travel companions quietly while on board and only talking on your phone if you\u2019re on a long-distance train. Make sure you only use one seat \u2014 it is considered rude to place your belongings on another seat \u2014 and only use a priority seat<\/a> if you need it.<\/p>\n It will certainly be unavoidable to walk in the street in Japan! There are often many pedestrians, which makes following proper etiquette extra important. Most importantly, avoid blocking passageways \u2014 tourists often do this, especially when they have luggage and stop to check directions. Also, make sure you walk on the left (like the street traffic) to maintain the flow. Lastly, never eat while walking. This may seem inconvenient, but it is considered bad manners to not sit or, at a minimum, stand out of the way of other pedestrians while you eat.<\/p>\nTraveling by Train<\/b><\/h2>\n
Walking in the Street<\/b><\/h2>\n
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