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3 things you should avoid when meeting a Japanese (for the first time)

2020-06-26 by Taka

3 things you should avoid when meeting a Japanese (for the first time)

Hi, how’s everything? 
This time I wrote about 3 things you should avoid when meeting a Japanese person for the first time. If you don’t know these 3 things, making a Japanese friend could be difficult, so it’s important that you know them!

1.Physical contact (kissing or hugging)

We don’t usually have physical contact with friends or family. Japanese don’t have the custom of kissing on your cheek or hugging as a greeting and keep some distance to respect other people’s personal space (this maybe why the coronavirus does not spread much in Japan despite the large population). Because of globalization, we do have some people who doesn’t mind such physical contact nowadays, but it’s better to avoid doing that at first and get to know each other little by little.

2.Call someone without 〜さん (-san)

It is rude to call someone without -san if the person is the one you meet for the first time. -san is an honorific title that can be used for both male and female. We call each other using nicknames or without -san once we get closer but until then it’s better to use this when you call the person to show respect. (More about Japanese honorifics, check the link here: https://hidanotaka.com/japanese-honorifics/ )

3.Ask some opinions

In many Western countries, it is pretty normal to talk about things like politics and lifestyles, etc and ask some opinions to someone, but if you do that to a Japanese you meet for the first time, there will be an awkward moment. People in Japan generally don’t give opinions clearly by saying what is Good or Bad. Instead, we often consider the situation and the relationship with the person talking with and give some vague opinions. This is to respect different values and also to avoid conflict. Until you get to know each other well, it’s better not to ask some opinions or he/she will only get confused what to say.

People become friends gradually and it takes a while to be trusted as a friend in Japan. But as long as you respect others and keep on communicating, you will be able to build good relationships!

Thank you for reading and enjoy making Japanese friends!
Oh, and you can always be friends with me.
If there’s anything you want to know about Japan, just send me a message to [email protected] 

See you next time, 
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
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Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: make japanese friends, meeting japanese for the first time, things to avoid in japan, what to avoid in japan, 初対面, 日本語

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Taka/原貴浩

Taka吉祥寺出身の元大手英会話学校教務主任、作曲家、コンテンツ開発/編集者。高校生の時に出会ったアメリカ人の英語の先生がきっかけで英語や海外文化に興味を持つようになり、18歳で単身アメリカのフロリダ州へ音楽留学、主席で卒業。帰国後は舞台や楽曲制作などエンタメ業界に関わりながら長年英会話の講師として務め、英語関連の書籍や音声/動画コンテンツの制作、編集なども行っている。コロナ禍前に岐阜県の高山に移住し、同市の英語講師、通訳案内士やゲストハウスの立ち上げを行いながら、外国人移住者と地域住民との架け橋となる多文化共生支援団体、Family Planet Japanの代表としても活動。英語や音楽を通した人とのつながり作りや、まちづくりにも精力的に関わっている。 Introduction

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