Cultural aspects in Japan

Lesson #4 – Cultural Aspects in Japan

Eating Meals• Begin with the phrase itadakimasu

"I humbly receive" similar to "bon appétit"

• give thanks for all who played a role in preparing the food.

• This also acknowledges that living organisms have given their life to human beings.

• Upon finishing a meal, the Japanese often say gochisōsama-deshita, which means "you were a feast [preparer]".

• Sama is the honorific word which gives respect to the person for making the meal.

Eating out of a bowl

• Lift soup and rice bowls to the mouth so that one does not spill food

• Miso soup is drunk directly from the (small) bowl, rather than with a spoon

• It is appropriate to slurp Japanese noodles

• Western-style pasta should not be slurped

Eating with Chopsticks

• Japanese restaurants often provide diners with single-use wooden chopsticks

• Use the thick end ONLY during a large gathering in which you have to serve yourself from a large tray at the center of the table

• To rub chopsticks together is extremely rude and unsophisticated

• return single-use chopsticks to their original paper wrapping after meal; prevents the person cleaning up from accidentally touching the part that was in your mouth

Eating Lunch

• Bentō, boxed meals in Japan• Very common and important ritual

during lunch• Parents take special care when

preparing meals for their children• Bentō are made fancy, but it must

be consumed in its entirety.• Parents must almost "show off"

their accomplishment in making the lunch

• They are preparing for their child, but the way it is prepared is looked upon by the other children and the nursery school.

• It is close to a competition to see who has the best parent.

Bowing• Bowing is an art form in Japan• respect pounded into children’s heads

from the moment they enter school• Duration and depth of the bow is

proportionate to the elevation of the person you’re addressing

• A friend might get a lightning-fast 30-degree bow

• An office superior might get a slow, extended, 70-degree bow

• In addition, addressing someone properly is key

• Attach the suffix “san” to their last name, or “sama” if you are trying to be particularly respectful.

Visiting• Considered an honor to be

invited to someone's home in Japan

• Many Japanese regard their homes as being too humble to entertain guests

• Shoes are not worn inside• Japanese don't want the floor

to be stained by soil• Shoes are removed in the

genkan (mudroom / foyer)• Replaced with slippers called

uwabaki • Just socks are also acceptable

Greeting• Greetings are of extreme importance

in Japanese culture• Students must greet teachers with

energy and vigor• A lazy greeting is like a limp

handshake • ohayō gozaimasu ("good morning“)

– (used until about 11am )• (or at any time of day if it is the first

occasion that day the two people have met)

• konnichiwa ("good day") is used until late afternoon

• konbanwa ("good evening“)• oyasumi nasai (“good night“)

Titles

• chan (most often for female close friends, young girls or infants of either gender)

• kun (most often for male close friends, or young boys)

• san (for adults in general) • sama (for customers, and

superiors)

Respectful Language • There is an entire grammatical rule-

set for speaking respectfully to superiors and customers

• Japanese children are taught to act harmoniously and cooperatively with others from the time they go to pre-school.

• Great emphasis on politeness, personal responsibility and working together

• They see working in harmony as the crucial ingredient for working productively.[

• Universal good > individual desires• They present disagreeable facts in a

gentle and indirect fashion

Origami• Origami • The art of paper folding,

which is often associated with Japanese culture

• ori = "folding“• kami = "paper“• The goal of this art is to

transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.