Rudeness

Pararousia · May 8, 2005, 03:57

Hi All,
Could we start a list here of things considered terribly rude to Japanese (so I don't do any of them when I visit)? Thanks in advance!

Faustianideals · May 8, 2005, 04:10

Sticking chopsticks up in rice, just don't do it. my friends grandpa became enraged, and kicked me out of the dinner party..

Shas · May 8, 2005, 04:20

- do not sneeze in public
- do not blow your nose in public
- do not point with your finger
- do not walk while eating (and vice versa

)
- do not point your chopsticks at people

look around in the directory and the forum Maciamo has posted huge thread about japanese manners and stuff there you should find more

Elizabeth · May 8, 2005, 06:10

Originally Posted by Thor

Sticking chopsticks up in rice, just don't do it. my friends grandpa became enraged, and kicked me out of the dinner party..

Don't even lay your chopsticks across the bowl, young man...

Mike Cash · May 8, 2005, 07:01

If the Japanese would give 1/100th of the thought to how to avoid being rude to foreigners that most foreigners give to how to avoid being rude to them, it would be a wonderful country.

ArmandV · May 8, 2005, 07:09

Is it true that burping at the dinner table is considered a compliment there? I was told years ago (when I was a kid) that it told the host that you liked the meal.

Lingx · May 8, 2005, 07:36

I heard the same thing!

deadhippo · May 8, 2005, 08:39

its not polite to burp
its pretty acceptable to sneeze, i believe, as many japanese people have been sneezing in my face for the last few months without even saying excuse me
and laugh when i say excuse me after sneezing

dont pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks

Otosan-no-Conan · May 8, 2005, 10:21

My mother-in-law does it all the time... burping that is.

My wife has corrected me... she says it is rude, but, acceptable if you own the house.

Apollo · May 8, 2005, 23:13

If you receive a busines card from a Japanese, don't ever just put it in your purse in your backside pocket or just take it and put in your pocket. Instead, you should handle it gently, looking at it.

alexriversan · May 8, 2005, 23:39

Originally Posted by Miss_apollo7

If you receive a busines card from a Japanese, don't ever just put it in your purse in your backside pocket or just take it and put in your pocket. Instead, you should handle it gently, looking at it.

backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose.

for bathing purpose:

leather: takes days to dry
jeans: takes hours to dry
synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun

just to get rid of the assumption, *everybody* would use to have backside pockets.

well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets?

ralian · May 8, 2005, 23:43

Originally Posted by ArmandV

Is it true that burping at the dinner table is considered a compliment there? I was told years ago (when I was a kid) that it told the host that you liked the meal.

It's a storey of some other country.
It's not polite to burp

Apollo · May 8, 2005, 23:52

Originally Posted by alexriversan

backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose.

for bathing purpose:

leather: takes days to dry
jeans: takes hours to dry
synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun

just to get rid of the assumption, *everybody* would use to have backside pockets.

well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets?

Let me elaborate....don't put a Japanese business card in your pocket (whatever pocket you may have in your trousers....), as this is disrespectful. When receiving a card, read it and then handle it with respect in front of the person who gave it to you. After reading, you may want to put it in your file, briefcase etc...but NOT in a pocket (especially not the backside one...if you don't have a backside pocket, good for you, but if you do and you put the card there - it basically is offensive as you basically will be sitting on the card when seated...

snow san · May 9, 2005, 06:51

My former Japanese girlfriend would slap me whenever we were eating in a public place because I fidget around a lot such as shaking my legs or wiggling my feet(Im hyper)

if you happen to see funeral or pass a cemetary (I forget what the japanese word for cemetary is) DO NOT TAKE PICTURES....I was taking a pic and there was a funeral procession in the back ground...at the time I had not yet learnd to speak Japanese, and Im glad because I got an ear full from several people.

Im from Texas and we usully say excuse me when we bump into someone, but dont think the Japanese are rude because the dont say "excuse me" every time they bump into you....it is so croweded in some trainstaions (rush hour shinjuku station) that if
you stopped to say excuse me you'd be there all day.

I happen to have backside pockets...lol who cares is not everyone does....

deadhippo · May 9, 2005, 08:41

Originally Posted by alexriversan

backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose.

for bathing purpose:

leather: takes days to dry
jeans: takes hours to dry
synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun

just to get rid of the assumption, *everybody* would use to have backside pockets.

well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets?

i wonder how long they let you out for

Numark · May 9, 2005, 15:39

What is he talking about?!!!!!!!

Dekamaster · May 9, 2005, 16:38

Don't use your left hand for handshakes.

Shibuyaexpat · May 9, 2005, 17:24

Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite:
- On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS)
- At meals with alcohol, be mindful of other's sake/beer glass and fill (preferably holding the bottle with two hands). Reverse is nice too.
- Depending upon your company, place chopsticks on the little "holders" when not in use.
- When eating soba or noodles in general, it is okay to slurp, as long as you don't hurt yourself in the process.
- When drinking Japanese tea, use one hand to support cup from bottom and the other to wrap around the cup.
- Make an effort to speak Japanese (no matter how little you know). Being inquistive (e.g., how do I say...?) is a sign of your respect. Even if you're wrong, the fact that you're trying is being polite (or at least that's what I've learned)

In the end, if you keep in mind that you're a guest and try to act accordingly, everything will be fine.

alexriversan · May 9, 2005, 19:37

Originally Posted by deadhippo

i wonder how long they let you out for

you can make personal comments directly to my weblog. if you are in my buisiness, you are more than welcome.

by the way, i deceler your qoute as "rude". maybe i am wrong, and i am terrible sorry, in this case.

just to add something: backpockets are an invitation to thieves: but if you (assuming you have backpockets) utilize a chain, you are somehow safe.

i have never, ever seen shorts/trainers made from plastic, including backpockets.

actually i wont post for a while, because i do not have enough time anymore. i am terribly sorry for this.

PopCulturePooka · May 9, 2005, 21:50

Originally Posted by Shibuyaexpat

Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite:
- On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS)

If only the Japanese themselves would do this. Especially men. The number of times I'd see a carriage full of men sitting and reading and an old women standing...

In the end, if you keep in mind that you're a guest and try to act accordingly, everything will be fine.

I msut say, if you live in a country this idea of being a 'guest' annoys me.

deadhippo · May 9, 2005, 23:41

Originally Posted by alexriversan

you can make personal comments directly to my weblog. if you are in my buisiness, you are more than welcome.

by the way, i deceler your qoute as "rude". maybe i am wrong, and i am terrible sorry, in this case.

just to add something: backpockets are an invitation to thieves: but if you (assuming you have backpockets) utilize a chain, you are somehow safe.

i have never, ever seen shorts/trainers made from plastic, including backpockets.

actually i wont post for a while, because i do not have enough time anymore. i am terribly sorry for this.

its what some people would call humour
but i am truly puzzled by your posts and am now more than ever wondering if you are indeed sane
forgive my bluntness

Tonysoong · May 9, 2005, 23:56

[QUOTE=Shibuyaexpat]Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite:
- On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS)
- At meals with alcohol, be mindful of other's sake/beer glass and fill (preferably holding the bottle with two hands). Reverse is nice too.
- Depending upon your company, place chopsticks on the little "holders" when not in use.
- When eating soba or noodles in general, it is okay to slurp, as long as you don't hurt yourself in the process.)

All the above you mentioned is in fact borrowed from the west or the civilised world, rather than originally Japanese.

You put it in such a way as you Japanese invented all this, hmmm, funny. Come on.

You admire the west, which is good, but you are still a pagan nation equipped with modern technology.

**Iron Chef** · May 10, 2005, 01:17

Please try to stay on-topic. No need to jack someone else's thread when you've already posted similar sentiments elsewhere... Thanks.

Numark · May 10, 2005, 11:36

Originally Posted by alexriversan

backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose.

for bathing purpose:

leather: takes days to dry
jeans: takes hours to dry
synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun

just to get rid of the assumption, *everybody* would use to have backside pockets.

well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets?

okay sorry to be offtopic, but i think i can explain alexriversan's post weirdness. I think he is a non-native english speaker running a language through an online translator.

marcus314 · May 10, 2005, 11:40

I do not know if this is invented by Japanese.

When you take off your shoe in a tatami room, the forward side of the shoe must point AWAY from the room for showing respect....

Again can someone confirm this??

^_^

May 8, 2005, 03:57	#1
Pararousia Regular Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 111	Rudeness Hi All, Could we start a list here of things considered terribly rude to Japanese (so I don't do any of them when I visit)? Thanks in advance!

May 8, 2005, 06:10	#4
Elizabeth Regular Member Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: アメリカ Posts: 8,509	Originally Posted by Thor Sticking chopsticks up in rice, just don't do it. my friends grandpa became enraged, and kicked me out of the dinner party.. Don't even lay your chopsticks across the bowl, young man... __________________ たとえ辛くても、永遠に続く苦しみなどないでしょう。

May 8, 2005, 07:01	#5
Mike Cash Delusions of Adequacy Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: Japan Posts: 5,417	If the Japanese would give 1/100th of the thought to how to avoid being rude to foreigners that most foreigners give to how to avoid being rude to them, it would be a wonderful country. __________________ Kiva: Loans That Change Lives

May 8, 2005, 08:39	#8
deadhippo Regular Member Join Date: Apr 9, 2005 Posts: 365	its not polite to burp its pretty acceptable to sneeze, i believe, as many japanese people have been sneezing in my face for the last few months without even saying excuse me and laugh when i say excuse me after sneezing dont pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks __________________ Yokohama Living

May 8, 2005, 23:13	#10
Apollo Cat lover Join Date: Mar 28, 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Age: 30 Posts: 1,593	If you receive a busines card from a Japanese, don't ever just put it in your purse in your backside pocket or just take it and put in your pocket. Instead, you should handle it gently, looking at it. __________________

May 8, 2005, 04:10	#2
Faustianideals Comfortably Ignorant Join Date: Jul 15, 2004 Location: Illinois, USA Age: 21 Posts: 762	Sticking chopsticks up in rice, just don't do it. my friends grandpa became enraged, and kicked me out of the dinner party..

May 8, 2005, 04:20	#3
Shas Regular Member Join Date: Mar 31, 2005 Location: dsafsd Age: 22 Posts: 102	- do not sneeze in public - do not blow your nose in public - do not point with your finger - do not walk while eating (and vice versa ) - do not point your chopsticks at people look around in the directory and the forum Maciamo has posted huge thread about japanese manners and stuff there you should find more

May 8, 2005, 07:09	#6
ArmandV Five times to Japan. Join Date: Oct 18, 2004 Location: Tarzana, California Posts: 2,327	Is it true that burping at the dinner table is considered a compliment there? I was told years ago (when I was a kid) that it told the host that you liked the meal.

May 8, 2005, 07:36	#7
Lingx Junior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Posts: 1	I heard the same thing!

May 8, 2005, 10:21	#9
Otosan-no-Conan Otosan-no-Conan Join Date: May 7, 2005 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 22	My mother-in-law does it all the time... burping that is. My wife has corrected me... she says it is rude, but, acceptable if you own the house.

May 8, 2005, 23:39	#11
alexriversan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 6, 2005 Location: ireland Age: 34 Posts: 288	Originally Posted by Miss_apollo7 If you receive a busines card from a Japanese, don't ever just put it in your purse in your backside pocket or just take it and put in your pocket. Instead, you should handle it gently, looking at it. backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose. for bathing purpose: leather: takes days to dry jeans: takes hours to dry synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun just to get rid of the assumption, everybody would use to have backside pockets. well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets?

May 8, 2005, 23:43	#12
ralian 長靴をはいた猫やねん Join Date: Sep 1, 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 521 Blog Entries: 1	Originally Posted by ArmandV Is it true that burping at the dinner table is considered a compliment there? I was told years ago (when I was a kid) that it told the host that you liked the meal. It's a storey of some other country. It's not polite to burp __________________ PEACE ON EARTH

May 8, 2005, 23:52	#13
Apollo Cat lover Join Date: Mar 28, 2004 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Age: 30 Posts: 1,593	Originally Posted by alexriversan backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose. for bathing purpose: leather: takes days to dry jeans: takes hours to dry synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun just to get rid of the assumption, everybody would use to have backside pockets. well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets? Let me elaborate....don't put a Japanese business card in your pocket (whatever pocket you may have in your trousers....), as this is disrespectful. When receiving a card, read it and then handle it with respect in front of the person who gave it to you. After reading, you may want to put it in your file, briefcase etc...but NOT in a pocket (especially not the backside one...if you don't have a backside pocket, good for you, but if you do and you put the card there - it basically is offensive as you basically will be sitting on the card when seated...

May 9, 2005, 06:51	#14
snow san Junior Member Join Date: May 7, 2005 Posts: 9	My former Japanese girlfriend would slap me whenever we were eating in a public place because I fidget around a lot such as shaking my legs or wiggling my feet(Im hyper) if you happen to see funeral or pass a cemetary (I forget what the japanese word for cemetary is) DO NOT TAKE PICTURES....I was taking a pic and there was a funeral procession in the back ground...at the time I had not yet learnd to speak Japanese, and Im glad because I got an ear full from several people. Im from Texas and we usully say excuse me when we bump into someone, but dont think the Japanese are rude because the dont say "excuse me" every time they bump into you....it is so croweded in some trainstaions (rush hour shinjuku station) that if you stopped to say excuse me you'd be there all day. I happen to have backside pockets...lol who cares is not everyone does....

May 9, 2005, 08:41	#15
deadhippo Regular Member Join Date: Apr 9, 2005 Posts: 365	Originally Posted by alexriversan backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose. for bathing purpose: leather: takes days to dry jeans: takes hours to dry synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun just to get rid of the assumption, everybody would use to have backside pockets. well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets? i wonder how long they let you out for

May 9, 2005, 15:39	#16
Numark Regular Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Location: Minnesota Age: 23 Posts: 143	What is he talking about?!!!!!!!

May 9, 2005, 16:38	#17
Dekamaster 「地獄の番犬！」 Join Date: Feb 12, 2005 Location: Manila Age: 30 Posts: 420	Don't use your left hand for handshakes. __________________ Ni sen san / Ni sen go / Ni sen nana

May 9, 2005, 17:24	#18
Shibuyaexpat Regular Member Join Date: Jan 19, 2005 Location: SFO, but my heart's still in Tokyo Posts: 196	Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite: - On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS) - At meals with alcohol, be mindful of other's sake/beer glass and fill (preferably holding the bottle with two hands). Reverse is nice too. - Depending upon your company, place chopsticks on the little "holders" when not in use. - When eating soba or noodles in general, it is okay to slurp, as long as you don't hurt yourself in the process. - When drinking Japanese tea, use one hand to support cup from bottom and the other to wrap around the cup. - Make an effort to speak Japanese (no matter how little you know). Being inquistive (e.g., how do I say...?) is a sign of your respect. Even if you're wrong, the fact that you're trying is being polite (or at least that's what I've learned) In the end, if you keep in mind that you're a guest and try to act accordingly, everything will be fine.

May 9, 2005, 19:37	#19
alexriversan Regular Member Join Date: Mar 6, 2005 Location: ireland Age: 34 Posts: 288	Originally Posted by deadhippo i wonder how long they let you out for you can make personal comments directly to my weblog. if you are in my buisiness, you are more than welcome. by the way, i deceler your qoute as "rude". maybe i am wrong, and i am terrible sorry, in this case. just to add something: backpockets are an invitation to thieves: but if you (assuming you have backpockets) utilize a chain, you are somehow safe. i have never, ever seen shorts/trainers made from plastic, including backpockets. actually i wont post for a while, because i do not have enough time anymore. i am terribly sorry for this.

May 9, 2005, 21:50	#20
PopCulturePooka Go to shopping Join Date: Jul 8, 2004 Age: 28 Posts: 652	Originally Posted by Shibuyaexpat Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite: - On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS) If only the Japanese themselves would do this. Especially men. The number of times I'd see a carriage full of men sitting and reading and an old women standing... In the end, if you keep in mind that you're a guest and try to act accordingly, everything will be fine. I msut say, if you live in a country this idea of being a 'guest' annoys me. __________________ Do you know stuff?

May 9, 2005, 23:41	#21
deadhippo Regular Member Join Date: Apr 9, 2005 Posts: 365	Originally Posted by alexriversan you can make personal comments directly to my weblog. if you are in my buisiness, you are more than welcome. by the way, i deceler your qoute as "rude". maybe i am wrong, and i am terrible sorry, in this case. just to add something: backpockets are an invitation to thieves: but if you (assuming you have backpockets) utilize a chain, you are somehow safe. i have never, ever seen shorts/trainers made from plastic, including backpockets. actually i wont post for a while, because i do not have enough time anymore. i am terribly sorry for this. its what some people would call humour but i am truly puzzled by your posts and am now more than ever wondering if you are indeed sane forgive my bluntness

May 9, 2005, 23:56	#22
Tonysoong Regular Member Join Date: May 2, 2005 Location: Wuhu China Age: 40 Posts: 206	Pretentious [QUOTE=Shibuyaexpat]Just to put a different perspective on this, here are some things to be considered polite: - On the train, giving up your seat for elderly and parents with small children (MAJOR POINTS) - At meals with alcohol, be mindful of other's sake/beer glass and fill (preferably holding the bottle with two hands). Reverse is nice too. - Depending upon your company, place chopsticks on the little "holders" when not in use. - When eating soba or noodles in general, it is okay to slurp, as long as you don't hurt yourself in the process.) All the above you mentioned is in fact borrowed from the west or the civilised world, rather than originally Japanese. You put it in such a way as you Japanese invented all this, hmmm, funny. Come on. You admire the west, which is good, but you are still a pagan nation equipped with modern technology.

May 10, 2005, 01:17	#23
Iron Chef Villain Join Date: Feb 26, 2003 Location: Fukuoka (current), Nagoya, Sapporo Age: 38 Posts: 1,962	Please try to stay on-topic. No need to jack someone else's thread when you've already posted similar sentiments elsewhere... Thanks.

May 10, 2005, 11:36	#24
Numark Regular Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Location: Minnesota Age: 23 Posts: 143	Originally Posted by alexriversan backside pockets? ever have seen training pants with backpockets? jeans are not made for rollercoaster and tree climbing: things tend to get loose. for bathing purpose: leather: takes days to dry jeans: takes hours to dry synthetic: takes 30 minutes in the sun just to get rid of the assumption, everybody would use to have backside pockets. well, i know, jeans have them, but imagine i do not know jeans, and do not know what you mean? backside pockets? okay sorry to be offtopic, but i think i can explain alexriversan's post weirdness. I think he is a non-native english speaker running a language through an online translator.

May 10, 2005, 11:40	#25
marcus314 日本に住みたい!! Join Date: Apr 25, 2005 Location: Vancouver Age: 24 Posts: 49	I do not know if this is invented by Japanese. When you take off your shoe in a tatami room, the forward side of the shoe must point AWAY from the room for showing respect.... Again can someone confirm this?? ^_^

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