Japan has long maintained self-isolation from other countries in the world. And to this day, the Japanese mentality has a hard time accepting European traditions and customs, preserving its millennial cultural values. That is why traditions, customs and rules of conduct in the Land of the Rising Sun are considered the most unusual in the world.
Japanese society is built on the basis of a rigid hierarchy: senior - junior, boss - subordinate, parents - children. Therefore, respect for elders, for leadership is unlimited. Therefore, a Japanese person will never leave work before his boss. On the other hand, the Japanese are a very close-knit nation. Note that Japanese tourists in all countries of the world walk in groups, not looking up from their own. In difficult times, every inhabitant of the Land of the Rising Sun considers it his duty to somehow help his homeland. That is why, after the earthquake and the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, everyone came out to clean up the city: the townspeople, priests, and the police.
Rules of behavior
In Japanese society, it is customary to bow to each other when meeting, as a token of gratitude, when apologizing, expressing sympathy, and goodbye. Any self-respecting Japanese person, even if he is the president of a large company, will bow in greeting. The difference in bows between the boss and the subordinate will be only in the degree of inclination of the body. The more respected a person is, the lower they bow to him. This is not unusual, like Europeans in a handshake. Of course, you don't have to bow to the greeting. But by doing so, you can offend the interlocutor. A well-bred Japanese will not show his appearance, but it will already be difficult to reach an understanding with him.
In addition, the Japanese call all foreigners gaijin. If earlier this word contained a derogatory meaning in relation to the person to whom it was applied, now it simply means “foreigner” and does not carry anything offensive in itself.
It is not customary to look the interlocutor in the eyes for a long time and generally observe someone for a long time. This makes the Japanese suspicious. Although, the same thing may not please any other person.
It is considered indecent to speak loudly in public places, blow your nose and sniff. And wearing a medical mask on the street is quite a common occurrence, showing that a sick person is trying hard not to infect others with his disease. Expression of feelings in public places is frowned upon. Even holding hands is considered shameful.
In Japanese houses, conference rooms, offices, places of honor are considered to be the farthest from the door. Guests are usually seated in these places. The guest can refuse out of modesty if he believes that there are more honorable people in the company.
In traditional Japanese houses, in hotels, in many offices, it is customary to take off your shoes and wear specially prepared slippers for guests. Separate slippers should be worn when going to the toilet. If there is a carpet (tatami) in a Japanese dwelling, in no case should one step on it in any shoes, even in slippers.
How to eat and drink
Food intake is distinguished by separate traditions and customs. Many people know that the Japanese eat food with special chopsticks - hasi. Liquid dishes that cannot be eaten with chopsticks are eaten with a spoon, and at home they are drunk over the edge of the plate. The bread is traditionally cut into small pieces so that each piece can be eaten in one go. It is considered bad form to draw with sticks on the table or point them to something. It is customary to eat a piece of food taken from a plate, and not put it back on the plate. Sushi can be eaten with your hands, only men are allowed to pierce food with chopsticks and only with family or in the company of close friends. Under no circumstances stick the chopsticks into the dish - with this gesture, the Japanese show extreme disrespect for each other.
The Japanese very rarely invite guests to their home. In most cases, they are invited to a restaurant, cafe and other entertainment establishments. And all because the dwellings of the Japanese are often cramped and located far from the city.
Also in Japan it is not customary to pour drinks on your own. Usually, each of those sitting at the table pours some more to his neighbor. If the glass is even a little undershot, this is a sign that this person no longer needs to pour. However, sipping and chomping loudly while eating is not considered a bad thing. On the contrary, it is a sign of pleasure!
