A regular column from Bromley Cross lass Danielle Hayes, who lives in Japan. She is based in Kyoto and teaches English, writes and explores

HOW to be Polite in Japan - A Beginner's Guide

Japan is well known as being a very polite nation, and as a foreigner, it can sometimes be confusing to navigate around the dos and don'ts of Japanese manners. Here are some of the basics.

Bowing

Probably the most well known aspect of Japanese culture is the act of bowing. But did you know there are multiple layers to this act? In fact, there are three common ‘levels’ to Japanese etiquette. The most casual is a bend of around 15 degrees, called eshaku, and is used in everyday greetings when saying “ohayo gozaimasu” (good morning) or “konnichi wa” (good afternoon). Next is the 30 degree, keirei bow, used in business situations to show respect, and thank the customer. Finally, the most serious is the 45 degree saikeirei, used to show deep gratitude, or when giving a serious apology.

Eating

There a few mannerisms often observed in Japan. First, before you eat, you must say itadakimasu! This means ‘thank you for the food”, and you will often hear it in restaurants around the country. Next, be careful how you use your chopsticks when eating. Sticking them into food so they stand up is very bad form, as this is gesture is only ever used at funerals. Also, never pass food to someone else using you chopsticks — this is seen as unclean. When pouring drinks you should never pour your own drink, instead, everyone pours for everyone else. The only person who doesn’t pour for others is whoever has the highest status at the table. This is done as a sign of respect to your seniors.

Apartment Life

Japan is a small island, with a lot of people. This means that property space is limited, and most people live in apartments. Japanese construction usually involves very thin walls which makes living in overcrowded buildings a little difficult at times. Therefore, it is very important to be as quiet as possible at home. Watching TV or listening to music loudly is almost impossible. You can really hear everything from the next room. You must always remove your shoes before entering anyone’s home — including your own. Every apartment has a genkan, which is a small, sunken entryway in which to remove and store your shoes. Even workmen will remove their footwear when coming in and out of your home all day!

Of course, this is just scratching the surface of Japanese manners, there is so much more to learn and understand when living in Japan. A world apart form British manners, but just as important.

nTo read more about life in Japan and the cultural differences between here and there, visit www.geekgirlgoes.com