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Kamiza and Shimoza (an Upper Seat and a Lower Seat)
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I wrote about social status in Japan in my previous entry. But its content was a bit abstract. Today, I would like to write about a concept of expression and acceptance of social status in Japan: kamiza and shimoza.
Kamiza means an upper seat in direct translation and shimoza does a lower seat. A higher social status person is usually recommended to sit down on kamiza (an upper seat) especially in a business meeting.
Then where is kamiza and where is shimoza? Please look at the attached picture on left. The entrance of a room is a basic factor on deciding kamiza and shimoza. The far side from the entrance is the kamiza side and the far position on the same side is upper. So ① on the picture is the most kamiza and ⑥ is the most shimoza.
But if you can see a picture on the wall or a beautiful scenery through windows, positions may change (please look at the picture in center). The side where you can see the picture or the scenery well becomes kamiza (and the far position from the entrance is more kamiza).
The concept of kamiza and shimoza is there when you take a taxi with other people (the picture on right). The back seat is kamiza, and the right position on the back seat is upper because the entrance door of a taxi in Japan is usually left (it is right hand drive). The center of the back seat is usually not comfortable, so it is the third position. The front seat next to the driver is the most shimoza.
Some (especially younger) people in Japan do not care about kamiza and shimoza nowadays. But other people often feel impolite if someone does not keep the rule of kamiza and shimoza. That's a side of culture.
Kamiza means an upper seat in direct translation and shimoza does a lower seat. A higher social status person is usually recommended to sit down on kamiza (an upper seat) especially in a business meeting.
Then where is kamiza and where is shimoza? Please look at the attached picture on left. The entrance of a room is a basic factor on deciding kamiza and shimoza. The far side from the entrance is the kamiza side and the far position on the same side is upper. So ① on the picture is the most kamiza and ⑥ is the most shimoza.
But if you can see a picture on the wall or a beautiful scenery through windows, positions may change (please look at the picture in center). The side where you can see the picture or the scenery well becomes kamiza (and the far position from the entrance is more kamiza).
The concept of kamiza and shimoza is there when you take a taxi with other people (the picture on right). The back seat is kamiza, and the right position on the back seat is upper because the entrance door of a taxi in Japan is usually left (it is right hand drive). The center of the back seat is usually not comfortable, so it is the third position. The front seat next to the driver is the most shimoza.
Some (especially younger) people in Japan do not care about kamiza and shimoza nowadays. But other people often feel impolite if someone does not keep the rule of kamiza and shimoza. That's a side of culture.
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Please look at the attached picture on the left.
The concept of kamiza and shimoza is also there when you take a taxi with other people (the picture on right).
But other people often feel impolite offended if someone does not keep the rule of kamiza and shimoza.
That's a side part of our culture. <-- putting "our" there sounds more natural, as it identifies specifically Japan's culture, instead of just any culture. :)
Today, I would like to write about the concept of expression and acceptance of social status in Japan: kamiza and shimoza.
Kamiza means, "upper seat" in direct translation and shimoza, "lower seat."
A higher social status person is usually recommended to sit down on the kamiza (upper seat) especially at business meetings.
Then where is the kamiza and where is the shimoza?
The entrance of a room is the basic factor toward deciding where the kamiza and shimoza are located.
The far side from the entrance is the kamiza side and the far position on the same side is (also?) upper.
So ① on the picture shows the seat for the kamiza, the highest-ranking members, and ⑥ is for the lowest, the shimoza.
But if there is an exquisite painting on the wall or beautiful scenery through the windows, positions may change (please look at the picture in center).
The side where you can see the picture or the scenery well often becomes kamiza (and the far position from the entrance is more kamiza).
The back seat is kamiza, and the right position on the back seat is upper because the entrance door of a taxi in Japan is usually on the left (since we drive on the right-hand side).
The center of the back seat is usually not so comfortable, so it is relegated to the third position.
The front seat next to the driver is the most shimoza. (Really??? It's the opposite in Western culture. As kids, we shouted "shotgun!" to announce (at any point before entering the vehicle) that we had claimed that prime seat!! LOL)
Some (especially younger) people in Japan do not care about kamiza and shimoza.
なるほどね。「下座」と「上座」をぜんぜん知らなかったです。やっぱり部屋や車のルールが日本に行ったら、大変になるそうですね^^; あの時だったら、いなもとさんの日記のおかげで立派な人になりますね！o^_^o