Japanese Etiquette

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Japanese Etiquette
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Sitting techniques and rules

• Many Western people are not used to sitting on
  the floor anymore. In Japan, sitting upright on
  the floor is common in various situations. Tea
  ceremonies and other traditional events, one sits
  on the floor.
• The formal way of sitting for both genders is
  kneeling (seiza.)

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• In casual situations, men usually sit
  cross-legged, while women sit on the floor laying
  both legs to one side.
• Sitting Order
• The most important guest sits on the honored
  seat (kamiza,) which is located farthest from the
  entrance. The host or least important person is
  supposed to sit farthest from the entrance
  (shimoza.)

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Chopsticks

• Hold your chopsticks towards their end.
• When you are not using your chopsticks, lay them
  down in front of you with the tip to the left.
• Do not pass food with your chopsticks.
• Do not spear food with your chopsticks.

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• Do not point with your chopsticks to something or
  somebody.
• Do not move your chopsticks around in the air too
  much, nor play with them.
• Do not move around plates or bowls with
  chopsticks.
• If you have already used your chopsticks, use the
  opposite end of your chopsticks in order to move
  food from a shared plate to your own.

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Visiting Shrines and Temples

• Below describes the most important steps and
  manners when visiting Buddhist temples and Shinto
  shrines.
• Behave calmly and respectfully. Show your respect
  by making a short prayer in front of the sacred
  object. Do so by throwing a coin into the
  offering box, followed by a short prayer.

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• At some temples, visitors burn incense. You enter
  and light the incense, let it burn for a few
  seconds and then extinguish the flame by waving
  your hand rather than by blowing it out. Finally,
  fan the smoke towards yourself, as the smoke is
  believed to have healing power. For example, fan
  some smoke toward your shoulder if you have an
  injured shoulder.
• When entering temple buildings, you may be
  required to take off your shoes. Make sure you
  wear nice socks!

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• You are not suppose to visit a shrine if you are
  sick, have an open wound or are mourning because
  these are considered causes of impurity.
• At the purification fountain near the shrines
  entrance, take a provided ladle and fill it with
  fresh water and rinse both hands. Then transfer
  some water into your hand, rinse your mouth and
  spit the water beside the fountain. You are not
  supposed to transfer the water directly from the
  ladle into your mouth nor swallow the water.
• At the offering hall, throw a coin into the
  offering box, bow deeply twice, clap hands twice,
  bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds.

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Japanese Names

• In Japan, like in China and Korea, the first name
  follows the family name. If the first name was
  Ichiro and the family name was Suzuki, his name
  would be Suzuki Ichiro.
• Most Japanese last names are related to nature
  like mountain (yama), tree (ta), island (shima),
  bridge (hashi).
• Japanese first names have meanings such as
  intelligence, beauty, flowers, and the four
  seasons.
• First names ending with ro, shi, ya, or o are
  typically male names. Female first names end in
  ko, mi, e and yo.
• The Japanese commonly address each other by last
  name.

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Superstitions

• The number 4 The number 4 is considered bad
  luck because it is pronounced the same as the
  word for death (shi). In some hotels and
  hospitals, the number four is skipped.
• Stick chopsticks into rice Do not stick your
  chopsticks into your food generally, but
  especially not rice, because only at funerals,
  chopsticks are stuck into the rice put onto the
  altar.
• Give food from chopstick to chopstick This is
  only done with the bones of the cremated body at
  funerals.

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• Sleeping towards the North Do not sleep towards
  the North because bodies are laid down like that.
• Funeral Car If a funeral car passes, you should
  hide your thumb.
• Cut nails at night If you cut your nails at
  night, you will not be with your parents when
  they die.
• Lie down after eating If you lie down
  immediately after eating, you will become a cow.
• Whistle in the night If you whistle in the
  night, a snake will come to you.
• Black cat If a black cat crosses the street in
  front of you, bad luck is sure to follow.