Some Observations about the Japanese
The Japanese respect everyone and everything, and minutiae matters in the rules of etiquette.
The bow is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. There is grace, art, and geometry involved, some tutorials using 15, 30, and 45 degrees as the angles of a bow to express regard, gratitude, and humility.
Older women dye their hair black. They are also amazingly agile in negotiating steps at train and subway stations.
Several Japanese male office workers have expressed to me their comfort in knowing what to wear to work every day. They wear white shirts and black or navy suits to work. During the humid summer months, they often wear gray suits. Simple.
When I first arrived in Tokyo, without thinking or looking around, I stood on the right side of the escalator going up. A young man bumped into me as he was probably trying to catch a train. I didn’t even notice that everyone was standing on the left side. I guess since they drive on the left, they stand on the left. However, my friend says that in Osaka, you stand on the right and pass on the left.
Japanese drivers back into parking spaces.
Taxi cab drivers control the automatic opening and closing of doors, often to the bewilderment of foreign tourists.
Passengers do not use cell phones on trains except to text. They often read manga or other books, all to be respectful of other passengers. It’s library quiet.
When asked if they speak English, they invariably will say no, mainly because they do not want to make embarrassing mistakes.
On municipal buses, you enter from the rear and pay at the front, exact change only. If you don’t have change, you can use the change machine at the front of the bus.
The Japanese have embraced convenience stores, called conbini. Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson are the prominent stores. Sundries, snacks, bento lunches, fruits, and beverages are available.
Vending machines for coffee and soft drinks are ubiquitous in Japan. You need to stay close to the machines to finish your drinks, as the Japanese consider it rude to walk around with drink in hand. Receptacles for empty cans and bottles are next to the machine.
If you need to ask for directions, it is best to ask young people as they are more likely to remember the English they learned in school. Hotel clerks often speak a little English as well as some conbini clerks. A policeman is also a good source since there is very little crime in Japan and he will have time to help, although he probably won’t speak English.
You’ll notice that women protect their faces from the sun by using hats or umbrellas, and they have beautiful complexions.
Credit cards are not in wide use except when purchasing plane or train tickets and paying hotel bills. The clerk will return your credit card with two hands with a slight bow exhibiting utmost respect.
Face masks are worn by workers who have a cold in consideration of their co-workers.
Many mothers ride granny bikes, bikes with a basket, a seat for the child, and often a place for an umbrella. They are amazingly expert at avoiding collisions with pedestrians and other bicyclists as they run their daily errands.
We say “cheese” when taking photos but the Japanese, especially young people, use the victory sign. It works!
When we want to communicate “Come here,” we use our hand palm up and move our fingers toward us; the Japanese use their hand palm down.
When the Japanese say “I”, they often tap their index finger on the nose.