Japanese Culture – In Brief

Salutations
• For Mr. Mrs. & Ms. : San

• For Girls : Chan

• For Boys : Kun

• For Dignitaries/ VIP’s/ Royalty : Sama

 Bowing Manners
• By Boys : Hands on the sides

• By Girls : Hands on the lap

• By Junior : Greater bow

• By Senior : Lesser nod

 Number Game
• No.4 : Considered a bad number. Associated with
death. No rooms with 4 in hotels

• No.9 : Considered to be the number associated

with sufferings

• 20 years : Special gifts for attaining the age of 20 .

Hatachi- you can drink
 Number Game
• 77-88-99 years : Considered good ages to attain

• 3-5-7 years : Children who attain these ages are

taken to Shinto shrines & prayers are offered for
their long life
 General Customs
• No cutting of nails at night
• No lie down after
• Black cat crossing is considered ill omen
• No whistling
• No sleeping facing north
• If you see a funeral car passing, close your thumb &
hide it
 Hotel Customs
• Never give cash in hand in hotels. Always in a tray

• Money must be given with both hands & not with one
hand

• In hotels while eating say Itadakimasu meaning I accept

it. After eating say Gochisosama meaning I had my fill

• Clean the full plate. Donot leave leftovers

 Hotel Customs
• Small handtowel is given just for cleaning hands, not the
face. So donot use it as a napkin

• For drinking soup, take the bowl to the mouth

• No tips are offered to the waiters. Considered to be

rude

• In parties wait for all to be served with drinks & only

then start drinking. Say Kampai meaning cheers
 Visiting Houses
• Donot enter the house with shoes on

• Put the shoes outside & put on the slippers inside

• Bathroom slippers are different than house slippers

• Donot put your overcoat before the door is closed by

the host
Thank You