Thursday, July 11, 2013

Japan

Japan Dos:

  • Do bring some gift for your Japanese friends; it's representative of thoughtfulness.
  • Do take off your shoes when walking on Tatami mats, when entering somebodies home or when entering temples or shrines if asked. You should be provided with slippers in some of these places.
  • Do remember that Japanese taxi doors open automatically. The doors all nearly all Japanese Taxis are controlled by the driver and he will open the door for you to get in and out.
  • Do give up your seat on buses and trains for the elderly. It is a common courtesy.
  • Do pick up bowls to bring them closer to your mouth when eating.
  • Do drink soup straight out of the bowl.
  • Do slurp when eating noodles, no matter what your parents told you when you were little.
  • Do prepare to pay at a restaurant if you initiated the dinning invitation, and do make an attempt to pay at a restaurant if someone else invited you. Splitting the bill is not traditionally done in Japan.
Japan Donts:
  • Do not stand your chopsticks upright in your rice as this is offensive to your host as it is only used as an offering to the dead. If you must put your chopsticks down lie them on top/across the bowl or use the special chopstick rests if they are provided.
  • Do not blow your nose in public. Its a big sign of ignorance.  If you must blow your nose leave the room to do it.
  • Do not tip. At all. Ever!
  • Do not eat or drink while walking in public. Don't take food and drink inyo a store. Avoid sneezing, spitting, and burping as well.
  • Do not take food from the serving plate with the end of the chopsticks you use to eat with. Turn your chopsticks upside down and then pick the food up.
  • Do not take photos of geisha without asking permission.
  • Do not drink before others do when sharing a meal; wait for the initial kanpai toast
  • Do not get into a hot spring or public bath without rinsing off first.
  • Do not talk on the phone on trains.
  • Do use the honorific suffix ‘san’ when addressing all men and women.
  • Do bear in mind, that bowing is the customary greeting in Japan, but handshaking is becoming more common for business meetings with Westerners.

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