Japan is an awesome place to visit, and no one should let "rules" get in
the way of that! But Japanese culture can be very different to what
we're used to at times, and some things we do that may be acceptable for
us can be surprising and rude in Japan. My husband, Jun, and I put
together a list of the most common things we see that can cause trouble
(I speak from the perspective of having done all of these!) Mainly, this
is if you plan on establishing yourself in a Japanese community through
work/family--if you're visiting as a tourist then you don't really have
to worry so much about it. :)
As a foreigner you won't be held
to the same standards as Japanese people, but if you want to give a
really good impression then these are some guidelines you can follow!
None of these are things you HAVE to do. They are ideals and not always
the followed practice. I just always think it's better to know the ideal
standards and then you can choose how closely you want to follow them!
Rule
of thumb: Just think about how your words and actions will affect the
people around you before you do something! It's as simple as that. :)
Useful Japanese phrase: shouganai (しょうがない) - It can't be helped.
It's
pretty similar to "shit happens." You're essentially letting a bad
situation slide off your back instead of internalizing it.
FAQ:
"Can I still listen to music/text on the train/bus?"
Yes--sorry
I wasn't clear. I meant only making a call on your phone. You won't be
strange or rude at all if other people can't hear what you're doing!
"So you can't be outgoing in Japan?"
Of
course you can! Sorry for being unclear on this, too. By "don't be
emotional" I meant negative emotions. Everyone loves happy people! And
some places it's perfectly fine to be loud--just take your cue from the
people around you. :)
"So I shouldn't go to Japan? I'll stand out anywhere."
Again,
sorry for being unclear! Yeah, foreigners are going to stand out,
period. Mainly I meant through actions and not looks, but even then
Japanese people don't expect foreigners to know their customs so it's
fine to make mistakes! I've done EVERYTHING in this video (and still do
some of them), which is why I wanted to talk about it in the first
place!
"What about customizing food if I have allergies?"
A
lot of restaurants list common allergens on their menus. If you're not
sure you can always ask! And you can always ask to see if they'll
customize your order--it's just never worked for me.
"Do I have to talk like a robot like you? :( "
No,
I just suck at public speaking.（° ▽ °;）We had like maybe a dozen
subscribers when I made this video and never expected it to get so much
attention. I had no idea how it would end up being perceived and if I
could do it again so I didn't sound so "strict" or "uptight" or scare
people off from Japan then I would in a heartbeat! My new videos are
less crappy. Sorry! :(
