Here are 5 Japanese manners you never want to break!
- At a business meeting, don’t put the business card(s) you receive away. Leave it out, face up, on the table, in plain sight. If you receive multiple cards, put them in order (from top to bottom)in regards of businessrank. If you don’t know, place them side by side. It is also most polite to place the highest ranked person’s card on top of your card holder, like sitting on a zabuton (seat cushion). It is also polite to take your time and study the card while asking a pertinent question or two.
- When presented a gift wrapped in a furoshiki, (traditional clothwrap) the manner is to return the furoshiki to the owner. One more point with gifts: If you receive a gift, it is considered polite and good manners to give a gift back (even at a later date).
- When stepping on tatami(woven floor mat), avoid stepping on the fabric edge. It comes from the days when “kamon” (family crest) was printedon fabric. It’s still a good manner yet today.
- When eating sushi, miso soup is your final serving of food. Asking for hot green tea signals you’re done and ready for the bill. Remember this sequence.
- When wearing your summer yukata, or kimono, be sure your left side of fabric lays over your right.Opposite fold is used for the dead.
