[MoCHE] Culture Of Japan: Bowing, Removing Your Shoes, And What’s With These Masks

Day 2,801, 23:08 • Published in Japan Japan • by Dr.Jekica



Greetings ladies and gentlemen, proud citizen of eJapan. As I mentioned in introduction article, I will try to find all interesting things about Japan and share them with you. In this article I will start with some facts I find fun and I hope that you will like it too. This will also be very helpfull if anyone decide to visit Japan in rl 🙂





Culture Of Japan: Bowing, Removing Your Shoes, And What’s With These Masks



Bowing is for expressing respect, thank you, apologizing, greeting someone and more.
Don’t assume you can learn how to do it right. A simple inclination of the head or a slight bow at the waist is enough for foreigners.
The reason is that Bowing is nothing less than an art. The etiquette is very complex. The depth and length of a bow depends on the social status or age of the person you bow to.




Turning your back on someone in higher status than you is a huge insult. This leads to very amusing situations where people part going backwards, and even enter the Taxi with their backside first.




Staring is a big no-no in the culture of Japan.
In crowded situations the Japanese avoid eye contact to give others privacy. Come to think of it – in a crowded city like Tokyo, this makes life more pleasant (especially on the subway).




Shoes Must be Removed when entering Japanese houses and some restaurants. You will be provided with slippers. These slippers are removed before walking on Tatami mats.
If you are not given slippers, you can wear your socks, so make sure you have nice socks on.
There are special slippers for the toilet area. You must change back to regular slippers.




The Emergency room masks people wear in the streets are NOT due to some terrible disease. They protect other people from your virus or slight cold.

Sit with your legs folded on the Tatami mats on the floor in the traditional Japanese way.
Don’t panic- as a Gaijin (foreigner) you are not expected to be able to hold this pose. Men can sit cross legged, and women can sit on their knees putting both legs to one side.




Showing extreme emotions is very out of place. Saying ‘no’ is very uncomfortable for them because they try to please as part of the codes of culture of Japan.

Tokyo Nightlife has a very different set of rules.
It is an opportunity to meet a different side of the usually reserved nature of the Japanese people.

Don’t show affection in public – kissing, hugging and holding hands are very rare scenes in the Japanese public sphere. Even patting on the back is not acceptable.




‘San’ is what you call everyone after their last name. Not necessary with kids.


Hope that you liked it 🙂




Your Ministry of Culture, History and Education team:

Minister - Dr.Jekica
Vice Minister - Nanashi Senshi