Comments on: Etiquette 101 in Japan http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/ The adventures of an American living in Japan. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:55:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Steve http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-144 Steve Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:28:10 +0000 http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-144 @lina: I recently saw a documentary about flight attendants in training! Well, I think it was about that. I'm not sure because everything was in Japanese. They were practicing walking, smiling, bowing, handing out items, and everything had to be perfect. @Tori: Awesome. At least it wasn't something messy like crepes. I bet the salary man was just jealous. @Skeg8: Where to sit and how to stand in an elevator? That's madness! I'm glad you told the punks to move. In Fukuoka I see people give up their seats for older people, etc. It's definitely best to think like a considerate Japanese person while in Japan. @lina: I recently saw a documentary about flight attendants in training! Well, I think it was about that. I’m not sure because everything was in Japanese. They were practicing walking, smiling, bowing, handing out items, and everything had to be perfect.

@Tori: Awesome. At least it wasn’t something messy like crepes. I bet the salary man was just jealous.

@Skeg8: Where to sit and how to stand in an elevator? That’s madness! I’m glad you told the punks to move. In Fukuoka I see people give up their seats for older people, etc. It’s definitely best to think like a considerate Japanese person while in Japan.

]]> By: Skeg8 http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-98 Skeg8 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:12:46 +0000 http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-98 Japanese etiquette is very well defined but greatly misunderstood. When I started with the Japanese firm I work at we had half a day training on business etiquette, meishi kokan (business card exchange) ,　　where to sit and how to stand in an elevator (I am not kidding). The Japanese kids I was training with had no idea, most young people just dont know anymore. Japan is changing. Many years ago I was living in a small country town in Mie-ken and while riding a full train I would often see young people give thier seat up to older people and even see people offer to hold another persons bag upon thier lap (as putting it on the ground is not kosher). That almost never happens now, particularly here in Tokyo. When my wife was pregnant with our second son I had to lash out at some young university kids who refused to give up the clearly marked seats for pregnant women on a train. They moved quick once a started calling them un-japanese in front of a train full of people (in Japanese of course). I say learn as much culture as you can, dont be a gaijin who disrespects the culture simply becase you know you can do it and get away with it. Be the gaijin who impresses the old lady on the train when you give up your seat for her in an understanding that she is your elder and deserves your respect. Japanese etiquette is very well defined but greatly misunderstood. When I started with the Japanese firm I work at we had half a day training on business etiquette, meishi kokan (business card exchange) ,　　where to sit and how to stand in an elevator (I am not kidding). The Japanese kids I was training with had no idea, most young people just dont know anymore. Japan is changing.

Many years ago I was living in a small country town in Mie-ken and while riding a full train I would often see young people give thier seat up to older people and even see people offer to hold another persons bag upon thier lap (as putting it on the ground is not kosher). That almost never happens now, particularly here in Tokyo. When my wife was pregnant with our second son I had to lash out at some young university kids who refused to give up the clearly marked seats for pregnant women on a train. They moved quick once a started calling them un-japanese in front of a train full of people (in Japanese of course).

I say learn as much culture as you can, dont be a gaijin who disrespects the culture simply becase you know you can do it and get away with it. Be the gaijin who impresses the old lady on the train when you give up your seat for her in an understanding that she is your elder and deserves your respect.

]]> By: Tori http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-97 Tori Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:55:14 +0000 http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-97 #4 "Never eat or drink while walking" When I was an international student I once walked several blocks from my station to my campus whilst eating a large bento with chopsticks! It was marvelous...hehehe Oh, I knew what I was doing. Oh, yes, I knew ;) My school mate who was with me told me later that several salarymen had given me the "stink eye" but it was worth it. #4 “Never eat or drink while walking”
When I was an international student I once walked several blocks from my station to my campus whilst eating a large bento with chopsticks! It was marvelous…hehehe

Oh, I knew what I was doing. Oh, yes, I knew ;)

My school mate who was with me told me later that several salarymen had given me the “stink eye” but it was worth it.

]]> By: lina http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-91 lina Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:31:53 +0000 http://www.japanitup.com/etiquette-101-in-japan-199/#comment-91 I once saw a documentary on Japan, where they showed the JAL stewardesses in training. They were taught the 45 degrees and 90 degrees bow. What constitute a 45 degree bow, I wonder? I once saw a documentary on Japan, where they showed the JAL stewardesses in training. They were taught the 45 degrees and 90 degrees bow. What constitute a 45 degree bow, I wonder?

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