The Japanese bow to say
hello, thank someone, leave a place, or express an apology. The deeper the bow the more a person
respects another person. They do not
shake hands. Many times business cards
(meishi) are exchanged between people.
In interpersonal
relationships most Japanese try to avoid open competition and
confrontation. This society emphasizes
the benefits of harmony. In business
and in other situations the Japanese try not to say “no”. They may express a “not sure” decision. This part of their culture helps to keep
harmony within the society. Everyone
should politely accept this as a no.
Working with others and cooperating requires self-control and it carries
the rewards of pride in contributing to the group. Identifying oneself with others is highly valued. Even though group membership gives enjoyment
and fulfillment it also cause tension.
Participating in group activities in and out of work is a symbolic
statement that the person wants to be part of the group.
The Japanese are so neat
they don’t even bring umbrellas inside.
They are left outside of buildings for safekeeping.
Japanese are so
hygienic. People wear masks to protect
others when they have a cold. People
never blow their nose in public because it’s considered rude.
Everywhere I went I felt the friendliness, warmth and kindness of the Japanese people. The Japanese are very friendly and helpful if you initiate conversation. Otherwise they are private, quiet people. Japan has a quiet and peaceful culture. I quote from Zen Buddhism, “The quieter you become, the more you listen.”
People should take off
their outdoor shoes as you enter a tearoom, home, Japanese- style inn, temple
or any other place other people are doing it.
Tea Ceremony
The
cultural activity of the Japanese tea ceremony is about 800 years old. To help Buddhist monks concentrate on
meditation they used tea. Rituals were
developed around this sharing of tea.
In today’s world, the host and the guests continue this ritual. By following special rules the fine ceremony
is quite simple. The room is decorated
with great care and there is never wasted movement. The host makes green frothy tea.
Sweets are placed on a tatami mat on the floor for each guest. Guests kneel on this tatami mat. The host serves the tea to each person in
individual large ceramic teacups. You
bow when you are given this cup. You
should take the cup with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left
hand. Then you should turn the cup
clockwise three times before you take a drink.
Since the tea is bitter it is good to have a sweet dessert with it. You cut it piece by piece with a bamboo tiny
chopstick. When the tea is finished,
you should make a loud slurp to tell the host you enjoyed the tea. You should turn the cup counterclockwise and
return it to the host.
In a tea ceremony people
concentrate on the tea. They then
forget about the rest of the world. A
tea ceremony includes great cooking, flower decorating, haiku, ceramics, calligraphy
and Zen. It combines, qualities of
respect, cleanliness, harmony and peacefulness. The tea ceremony is called cha- no- yu in Japanese.