Handing Gifts in Japan
An American friend came to visit me over the weekend, and I drove to the train station to pick him up. Like me, he'd lived in Japan for quite a long time, and had unconsciously internalized the various customs all around him. He did what many Japanese do when visiting someone, bringing a gift (senbei crackers from his home prefecture), since going to see someone without a gift in hand is considered rude. When he gave the gift to me, I received it from him with both hands, inadvertently making a little bow of thanks, and this caused a few amused smiles by Japanese walking by, since seeing two gaijin doing a proper gift-handing isn't something you see everyday. Later, we went up to the mountains for some relaxing onsen bathing and talked. We spoke English, but switched to Japanese when a certain nihongo word or phrase fit the situation better. This proved irresistible to the Japanese bathers around us, who cranked their ears to listen in on our interesting conversation.
When you hand someone a gift (or business card) in Japan, always use both hands.
posted by Peter in Japan at 8:25 PM
4 Comments:
Of course Americans should be flexible and adaptable when we visit foreign countries. But I sometimes wonder whether our foreign friends misunderstand this part of us, and take our adaptability as evidence that the U.S. has no culture or traditions of its own.
3:00 AM
Mockinbird's argument is interesting. I have met many visitors to America who have made such comments. I quickly remind them this is not the case. As someone who is decended from Eastern Woodland cultures, African slaves, and British colonist I provide colorful ethnic examples of our American culture. From attitudes, to music, to our American English. ^_^ Which like their culture is derived from other cultures as well. However, I do believe the reason many American are so flexible to other cultures is because we live in a society with such a large immigrant population we are literally surrounded by the world in our lives. I personally think it is a benefit for Americans socially and economically to be so aware of the world. ^_^
7:48 AM
Yes, it's interesting that everything in America came from elsewhere then stewed/brewed to be something new. I write a lot about how Japan seems very uniform, with the same basic culture from one end to the other. America, not so much.
I totally did not even consider that I'd just done a semi-post on the Obama bow. Heh, um yes, I meant to do that.
10:31 AM
The practise of using both hands in giving and receiving things are quite common in Asia. In fact, if you don't do that, you will be consider very rude. I was scolded once by my teacher for not doing so (>w<).
12:08 AM
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