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If you come to Japan for the first time ....
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If you come to Japan for the first time,
there are several things you should know.
Japanese prefer indirect eye contacts.
That means, if you look into their eyes, they might feel uncomfortable.
Where should you be looking at?
Looking at their nose is fine, or you can look at their faces vaguely.
Meanwhile, please do not mind if Japanese people do not look into your eyes.
That is just not their habit.
I can think of two occasions when Japanese people might look into other people's eyes.
First is when they are in love, and the second is when they are accusing others.
In addition, Japanese people keep some distance between you.
If you go too close to them, they might feel strange.
Unless you meet very Westernized Japanese people, please do not kiss or hag for greetings.
When they step back from you, your perfume might be too strong as well.
They are not used to strong fragrance and prefer faint scent.
The most common word Japanese would say to others would be "Sumimasen" (excuse me) .
"Sumimasen" can also mean "Arigatou" (thank you) in some situations, but they don't use it to families or close friends.
"Sumimasen" is used for someone they do not know well, older people, or those in higher position in the company.
I just wrote down some of the things that came to my mind.
I hope you enjoy visiting Japan.
Sincerely,
Yuko
there are several things you should know.
Japanese prefer indirect eye contacts.
That means, if you look into their eyes, they might feel uncomfortable.
Where should you be looking at?
Looking at their nose is fine, or you can look at their faces vaguely.
Meanwhile, please do not mind if Japanese people do not look into your eyes.
That is just not their habit.
I can think of two occasions when Japanese people might look into other people's eyes.
First is when they are in love, and the second is when they are accusing others.
In addition, Japanese people keep some distance between you.
If you go too close to them, they might feel strange.
Unless you meet very Westernized Japanese people, please do not kiss or hag for greetings.
When they step back from you, your perfume might be too strong as well.
They are not used to strong fragrance and prefer faint scent.
The most common word Japanese would say to others would be "Sumimasen" (excuse me) .
"Sumimasen" can also mean "Arigatou" (thank you) in some situations, but they don't use it to families or close friends.
"Sumimasen" is used for someone they do not know well, older people, or those in higher position in the company.
I just wrote down some of the things that came to my mind.
I hope you enjoy visiting Japan.
Sincerely,
Yuko
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Japanese prefer indirect eye contacts.
In addition, Japanese people like to keep some distance between you.
Unless you meet very Westernized Japanese people, please do not kiss or haug for greetings.
They are not used to strong fragrances and prefer faint scents.
These are habits that I picked up after living in Japan. Now my friends in America think I'm odd. Lol.
Japanese people prefer indirect eye contacts.
That means that if you look into their eyes, they might feel uncomfortable.
Where should you be looking at?
In addition, Japanese people keep some distance between you and themselves.
If you get too close to them, they might feel strange.
Unless you meet very Westernized Japanese people, please do not kiss or hug for greetings.
They are not used to strong fragrances, and prefer faint scents.
The most common word Japanese people would say to others would be "Sumimasen" (excuse me) .
"Sumimasen" can also mean "Arigatou" (thank you) in some situations, but they don't use it with family or close friends.
"Sumimasen" is used for someone they do not know well, older people, or those in a higher position in the company.
Thanks for the tips! I'll be visiting Japan for the first time in December, I'll keep this in mind. That said, British people generally like to avoid eye contact and too much touching too XD
That's very interesting. I assumed Western culture is similar to each other.
Thank you for your comment and correction on my journal entry.
Japanese prefers indirect eye contacts.
Meanwhile, please pay no mind if Japanese people do not look into your eyes.
It is just not their habit.
In addition, Japanese people like to keep some distance between you.
If you get too close to them, they might feel strange.
Unless you meet a very Westernized Japanese people, please do not kiss or hug for greetings.
They are not used to strong fragrances and prefer faint scent.
"Sumimasen" can also mean "Arigatou" (thank you) in some situations, but they don't use with families or close friends.
"Sumimasen" is used for someone they do not know well, older people, or those in a higher position in the company.
good article :)
love it
Thank you for this useful entry!
It's true that thoses tiny differences between the Japanese and Western cultures can be quite surprising at first, but I think it's easy to get used to it. :)
しまった！もう違いました。＾＾
フランスでは反対だと思います。
Sometimes I have the impression that I'm impolite if I not look people in the eyes, or if I cannot make greetings as French way.
Even if I'm in Japan...私には困った事だ。
とにかく、Yukoのお勧めをちゃんと覚える。
有難う～
ね～、叔母さんと、駅で最後私は彼女を見た時、私は失礼な人みたいの？
彼女は本当にすごく優しかったので、私の日本語は下手ので、ありがたいを言えなかった。
で、抱き締めてしまった・・・ 失礼？
ところで、「頭にきた」は、日本語で、「怒っている」という意味になってしまうので気をつけてください。
「ちょうど思い出した。」の方がいいでしょう。
添削くれた有難うございます。
In addition, Japanese people keep some distance from you.
Hi yuko! You might not agree with me when I say that, speaking about myself, I like to talk to somebody direct to the eyes. I might not be understood if my listener is not looking at me, he, he.I can express more if someone is attentive to what I say by looking at me direct to my eyes. I am a Filipina but not all of us have the same attitude regarding this. This is only ME!
One of them lived abroad when he was little, though.
It is kind of interesting to learn the variations of Asian cultures.
We look similar but have different cultures in fact!