Quote:
Originally Posted by john70t
Wherever you go: Be clean and stay clean even though you will walk fast everywhere, wear dark muted clothing, don't talk loudly, or wave your hands, or stare, don't spit or litter obviously. Sticking chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice is bad. They are very sensitive to being polite in public and these will go a long way.
Know a little Japanese...
thank you "domo ari gato" // pardon me "su mi ma sen" // I apologize "gomen kudasai" // I am stupid foreigner" watashi wa baka gaijin" // I don't speak Japanese, sorry "nihongo o hanasimasen, gomen kudasai" // rice or meal in general "gohan" // where is "doko desu ka?" // carousel sushi "kuru kuru zushi" (frowned on by them as low class food but a unique experience).
Once obligated they will also go out of their way to do what they promised, so they don't pretend to be friendly easily. Some may not like foreigners. Most are just very shy and have to wear a poker face 24/7. Don't take anything personally. Usually someone younger will smile and know a little bit of English to want to practice with you.
They are always busy and you are a buffalo in their fish pond.
Don't go to strip clubs anywhere. These are always mafia/Yakusa owned and you will get charged for a $1,000 beer.
I spent half a year in Kyoto in late 1970s and traveled all over town alone. It is as safe as the very best US city. Only a few times in the wrong side-street neighborhood in Osaka and with a group of very old men walking by in Kyoto did I ever feel nervous there.
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Great post.
This is BAD.
https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-tokyo_train_station/article-a0001284/
However, in Japanese culture, sticking chopsticks vertically into rice should only be done only during funeral rituals, and therefore, something to be avoided during regular mealtimes. Try to use chopsticks holders if available, but if there are none then place your chopsticks uncrossed on your bowl or plate.
1. Don’t Play with Your Chopsticks in Japan
2. Don’t Pass Food from One Set of Chopsticks to Another
3. Don’t Rub Your Chopsticks Together
4. Don’t Stick Your Chopsticks into Rice
5. Don’t Cross Your Chopsticks
Know a little Japanese...
thank you
"domo ari gato" // pardon me
"su mi ma sen" // I apologize
"gomen kudasai" // I am stupid foreigner"
watashi wa baka gaijin" // I don't speak Japanese, sorry
"nihongo o hanasimasen, gomen kudasai" // rice or meal in general
"gohan" // where is
"doko desu ka?" // carousel sushi
"kuru kuru zushi" (frowned on by them as low class food but a unique experience).
A note on pronunciation that you may or may not need. When Japanese is spelled with our alphabet, the vowels are pronounced like: a = "ah" like father, e = "eh", i = "ee" as in me or bee, o = owe or go, and finally u = oo like in blue.
You can't go wrong knowing a few of those.
Also, when I was there at least, English was a required course for most Japanese children for many years. Most of them may understand or speak a little English (but may be embarrassed to try) but if you can write the words down, they will probably recognize them.