Japanese Etiquette

Overview
 Meeting People
 Greeting
 Dining
 Gift giving and Accepting
 Bathing Etiquette
 Staying at some one’s home
 Business Do’s and Don'ts
 Meeting People

 Supervisor
 Kocho / Kyoto sensei
 Other teachers
 People in the community
 Greeting
 Do bow when greeting some one.
 Say your name slowly.
 If you have business card, get it ready.
 O sewa ni natte orimasu - This means “Thank you for taking care of me!”
 DON'T say something to the effect of "I hope to see you again" when parting.
 Dining
 Chopsticks
 Don’t play with them.
 Don’t use your chopsticks to point to something.
 Family-style food
 If you go to a restaurant, expect to share.
 Don’t “help yourself” – the host will serve you
 Don’t hover your chopsticks over a dish
 Pouring drinks
 Pour drink for your neighbor
 If at an enkai, wait for the toast to imbibe!
 If you need more of a beverage, offer your neighbor some and they’ll do the same
 Dining cont’d
 Rice
 Rice is the staple of the meal; all items prepared are meant as complements
 It’s slightly sticky to enable you to grab large clumps, so don’t mix it up or
add soy sauce
 You may pick up the chawan (bowl) to eat it
 Itadakimasu
 Wait after the host is seated to eat
 If you want more of something, you can comment on how delicious it was if
you’re shy to reach for more!
 Gift giving and Accepting

 DO give and receive gifts with both hands.

 DO give a gift to thank somebody. Good gifts include cake, sweets, and sake.
 DO avoid giving gifts that have to do with the number four. It is bad luck.
 DON'T open a wrapped gift until later.
 Bathing Etiquette
 DO be aware of the communal bathing culture in Japan.
 DO wash yourself outside the bath before getting in.
 DO bring your own toiletries, such as
 Towels.
 Pumice stones.
 Toothpaste.
 Shaving supplies.
 Staying at some one’s home
 DO take your shoes off when entering a Japanese person's home. Your host
will likely provide you with a pair of slippers.
 DO take slippers off when entering a room with a tatami floor. Tatami mats
are associated with religious rites and tea ceremonies. Slippers can damage
the mats, but you may walk on them either barefoot or in socks.
 DO take your slippers off when entering a bathroom. There will be special
toilet slippers there for you to put on.
 DO bring a gift. It's rude to go to a Japanese person's home without one.
 DON'T drain the water after taking a bath at someone's house. Everyone in
the household uses the same bathwater. As a guest, you'll probably be able
to use the bath first.
 Business - Do’s
 Appearances count!
 Keep your hair and clothing tidy and in good condition
 The amount of care you put into your appearance reflects
how much care you will put into the relationship
 DO bring a gift, such as a little souvenir from your native city.
 DO show a lot of gratitude if given a gift by a business associate.
 Ask questions about the gift to show how interested you are.
 DO take notes during a meeting and use a black or blue pen.
 Thank people graciously!
 Ask questions politely
 Actions speak louder than words
 SMILE
 Business – Don’ts
 DON'T sit until told where to sit. Usually there is a seating arrangement based on
professional status.
 DON'T stand once the meeting is finished until the person with the highest
professional status stands.
 DON’T be late or cancel.
 DON’T Attend to personal grooming in public.
 DON’T follow some Western body language.
 DON’T be a rude communicator.
 DON’T be sarcastic.
Thank you