TABLE OF CONTENTS

Being a Gaijin in Japan

Greetings
Use of Names
Entertaining Friends
Status of Women
Dating Patterns
Physical Contact
Drugs in Japan
Drinking Alcohol/Smoking

1. Being a Gaijin in Japan

One of the first Japanese word you will
hear in reference to you is Gaijin,
literally translated as outside person.
This term is not generally used to
downgrade foreigners.
Others wonder why Japanese do not
identify foreigners as Americans,
British, or Australians, rather than
lumping all non-Japanese together as
gaijin.

2. Greetings
Upon meeting for the first, second or
umpteenth time, men and women
usually bow, although the more
cosmopolitan may shake hands.
Often, people will bow and shake
hands simultaneously.

3. Use of Names
First names are generally not used in Japan.
Most Japanese use the family name followed by
san (Mr./Miss/Mrs), sensei (literally, teacher,
but used in addressing not only professors but
also physicians, dentists, politicians), or the title
of the person being addressed.
If you are in doubt and there is no one
immediately available to ask for advice, use san.
Since your name may be difficult for Japanese to
pronounce, you may be asked to provide a
nickname, e.g., Mak-san for Mr. McDonald.

4. Entertaining Friends
Invitations are extended either in
person, by telephone or on printed
invitations for formal receptions or
dinners and all should be taken
seriously.
If invited to a meal, it is likely that it
will be at a restaurant rather than at
someones home.

 It is polite to arrive on time, to take

a small token of your appreciation (a
potted
plant,
flowers,
sweets),
especially if your are going to a
private home, and to say thank you
afterwards by telephone, postcard, or
letter.

TIPS
When eating Japanese food, never stick
your chopsticks into rice, since it is
associated with the rice bowl placed in the
funeral altar.
If you are visiting a sick person at home
or at the hospital, do not bring a potted
plant or flowers that change colors
frequently, since the former associates the
sickness with being rooted, and the
latter, with the sickness being worsened.

 The numbers 4 and 9 are to be

avoided in a gift or at other times
because 4 = shi, has the same sound
as the word of death (shi), and 9 =
ku as the word of suffering (ku).

5. Status of Women
The status of women in Japan is
complex and cannot be characterized
in simple terms.
For a typical couple, the female
spouse is still generally expected to
do all of the cleaning, cooking and
other chores, whether she is working
or not.

 Mass media often report that women in

Japan are more genki (vigorous, active)
than their male counterparts.
Single women are said to be enjoying their
lives, spending much money on travel abroad
and shopping.
Housewives are active in networking
themselves for various objectives, e.g.
volunteer
activities,
co-op,
community
services, recycle activities, study circles, and
many others.

6. Dating Patterns
The omiai is still prevalent. This is
when two people are introduced by
friends or go-between who have first
investigated
the
family/personal
backgrounds of the two parties to
ensure a degree of compatibility.

 While dating is common, the underlying

assumption between two Japanese is that
marriage is the eventual objective.
Therefore, foreign visitors must be sure to
make their intentions clear to avoid any
misunderstanding.
Do not be surprised to hear the terms
girlfriend or boyfriend used frequently
in casual conversation, since they usually
simply refer to female and male friends.

7. Tipping
One of the pleasures of living and
traveling in Japan is the absence of
the custom of tipping in everyday
life.
In staying at hotels, taking taxis,
dining
out,
having
groceries
delivered, ordering de-mae, having
something repaired in your home and
the like, no tipping is expected or
necessary.

8. Physical Contact
Foreigners dislike physical contact with
strangers, while Japanese seem quite
indifferent or inured to it. In addition,
while Japanese avoid physical contact
with friends and family members,
foreigners indulge in it freely.
Hugging and kissing among friends and
family even after a long separation is
uncommon in Japan.

9. Drugs in Japan
The Japanese attitude toward
narcotics of any kind, including
marijuana, is very severe.
Importation or use of drugs will lead
to incarceration until the time of
deportation, and permanent barring
from Japan.

 An individual can be arrested for use

of drugs several weeks or months
after the fact. There are absolutely
no exceptions to the severity with
which the law is applied. There have
been cases of arrest and deportation
of overseas students because of
possession of marijuana.

10. Drinking Alcohol /

Smoking
In contrast to the strict laws and public
attitude toward use of narcotics, the
Japanese are very tolerant of what to
Westerners may appear to be excessive
drinking and public inebriation.
Beer, sake and whisky are available
everywhere, including convenience stores,
on trains, and in almost all dining
establishments.

 If you do not wish to drink, it is

perfectly acceptable to refuse and
request a substitute.
The Japanese in general find alcohol
to be great social lubricant, which
frees them from the rigid structures
of
their
social
and
business
obligations and customs.

 Although planes, subways and

commuter trains, their stations and
platforms, hospitals, public offices,
department stores, etc. practice the
no smoking policy or provide
separate smoking corners, smoking
is not as strictly regulated as in the
U.S. or in other places. An increasing
number
of
restaurants
have
designated areas for smokers and
non-smokers.