People and Traditions in Japan

People and Traditions in Japan

Visit Japan today, and you’ll find some HUGE, almost New York-style cities and buildings, just like the ones here! In the big cities, we saw things like fast-food restaurants, businesses, and plenty of taxis, loud cars, and busy people. I took the opportunity to learn about how to communicate with others in the traditional way.

One thing I picked up on was bowing. People bow when they say hello, goodbye, thank you or sorry. It’s used to show respect and greeting. I decided to use a simple head nod instead of a full bow, and to shake hands occasionally when greeting others. [Left: People bowing as greeting when passing at the mall]

Another simple tradition is removing your shoes when entering a home. I had to take my shoes off when entering people’s homes, a traditional ryokan (guesthouse), a temple, and even some restaurants. It makes sense, considering how the dirt would get on the tatami matted floors where we eat, sleep, and sit. Often when entering buildings there were signs asking us to remove our shoes in the genkan (entrance hall), and sometimes even lockers for them to go in. If you’re lucky, they’ll even give you a pair inside shoes to use! [Right: Changing shoes when entering a building]

One of the biggest parts of Japanese culture is values. People show a lot respect for elders, and normally take care of them in the home instead of sending them to a retirement home. Even in stories, the elderly are shown as wise, calm and enchanting. I noticed this in the story "The Jay".

‘“Grandmother understands well,” Yoshiko said.

Her grandmother’s eyes were bad...she could only see dimly out of her left eye...This nearly blind grandmother, simply from having heard the jay’s voice, spoke as if she had seen everything. Yoshiko was filled with wonder.’

“The Jay”

-Yasunari Kawabata

In the story, Yoshiko loves and respects her grandmother. She also becomes enchanted with her grandmother's wise and spiritual knowledge. Many children in Japan see their own grandparents in a way similar to this.

When you meet an older person, you should always bow, though you won’t see much of them out and about. Also, older japanese are sometimes known to be quiet and serious, but very wise. Non-verbal communication is seen as more important than verbal, especially since a lot of communicating used to be done through art.

A couple other simple manners I learned (through trial and error) were:

• Before eating a meal, you should put your hands together and say Itadakimasu (I humbly receive). It’s kind of like saying grace. After eating, it is polite for you to say Gochiso sama deshita (thank you for the meal).
• Don’t pass food around with your chopsticks (this is normally a part of japanese funeral ceremonies, and is frowned upon if done otherwise)
• Drowning your rice in soy sauce can be taken as offence to the restaurant owner. (saying sorry doesn’t help)
• Walking and eating is bad manners

And a big one that caught us way off guard

• No tips necessary

Seriously. When we left one, they just gave us our money back. [Left: Not everyone's chopstick method is pretty, but it gets the job done!]

I really liked learning about how people in this culture act. They’re extremely well-mannered (almost to a fault). I am a little tired of having to remember all these rules on how to operate in public, though. Guess it’s time to pack up for our next stop!

http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Japan.html#b
http://www.insidejapantours.com/japanese-culture/social-conventions/
http://acad.depauw.edu/~mkfinney/teaching/Com227/culturalportfolios/japan/values.htm
http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/09/on-respect-for-the-aged-day-keiro-no-hi-a-look-at-japans-other-traditional-celebrations-of-longevity/