Foiling the Japanese Faux-Pas!

              Unfortunately for me, I have somehow mastered the skill of always getting myself into embarrassing situations. Tripping over stationary objects, creating awkward silences, fumbling anything put into my hands.. you name it, I've made it awko-taco. Since embarrassing myself comes oh so easily, I like to have an arsenal of Japanese cultural do's and don'ts at the ready for my move to Tokyo in order to ween the awkward situations down to a somewhat normal level.

Most of the faux-pas below are things that I have discovered from my previous visit to Japan. Others have been kindly passed down to me by my Japanese friends who are sweet enough to attempt to keep me from transforming into Japan's #1 most awkward 6" tall, blonde gaijin. If you know of more Japanese do's and don't, or perhaps if some of these don't apply where you live in Japan, be sure to let me know in the comments!

Forever avoiding these cringe-worthy moments...

Situation 1: The Footwear Fiasco
You walk into a Japanese home for the first time. Finally, a Japanese family has taken your poor, little, foreign soul under their wing and to sweeten the deal they want to treat you to supper. SCORE. As you step into the main room, the room goes quiet... The air grows thick with silence... All eyes are on your feet.

Luckily for most Canadian travelers out there, we are already in the habit of taking our shoes off when we enter a home. The Japanese however, hold this rule to a very high standard. Shoes must be taken off and neatly placed at the 玄関(genkan). You might also be expected to take your shoes off at certain shrines, restaurants, and schools. Also, some people don't like you running around barefoot in their homes especially if there are tatami mats so bring a pair of emergency socks with you wherever you go just in case.

Situation 2: Way Down Low
You are playing your usual game of charades with your supervisor in order to supplement your lack of Japanese with some good, ol' fashioned body language. He's asked you about working this coming Sunday and you give him a thumbs down to show that you won't be able to make it in that day. Your supervisor's face becomes red with anger...

Congrats, you've just learned how to tell someone to "go to hell" through Japanese body language!

Situation 3: "Hashi" Hassle
One of the most exciting and drool-worthy aspects of Japan is the food. Seasonal food, festival food, traditional food; they're all equally amazing. However, what's not so amazing is learning the proper ways to get the food from your plate to your mouth without looking like a complete barbarian. Follow the clever (and kawaii) rules below and you will be using your 箸 (hashi) like a pro in no time!

Check out Cool Japan Lover for more kawaii things

Situation 4: Onsen aka. The Rite of Passage
You walk into a public bath house with your friends feeling absolutely terrified. As a Westerner you aren't accustomed to prancing around in your birthday suit with your friends and co-workers nearby. Do you have to get completely naked? Won't people stare? Are there proper steps to take while bathing? Yes, yes, and yes.

While some bath houses have unisex baths where you can wear a swimsuit, most are segregated into two sections for both genders where you have to undress completely before entering the bath. Also, it may or may not happen, but be prepared to be stared at a little bit depending on your level of gaijin-ness (I'm very tall, blonde and I have blue eyes so my gaijin level is extremely high).

As for making sure to take the proper steps while bathing, I could go on and on, but I'll save my breath and show you a handy-dandy video that sums it all up!

How to do Japanese Onsen

Situation 5: Rules To-Go Please

Today you've decided to go on an adventure! You're going to see the sights, eat the food, and really become one with the city. A trendy Carrie Bradshaw in NYC type of day. However, their are some things you should know before you take that first step out the door.

The first thing you should know is that most Japanese people find it very strange if you are walking and eating at the same time. My Japanese university professor pointed this out to me one day when I was walking to campus and eating an apple on the go.

The second pertains mostly to the ladies out there. For some bizarre reason, wearing a top that shows your shoulders is considered risqué while wearing super short-shorts with knee high socks is completely A-OK... Well there goes all of my nice tank-tops...

Lastly, blowing your nose into a handkerchief or Kleenex in public is an unspeakably horrible act in Japan. What then, you ask, should you do if you get a cold? Remember the golden rule that your mother taught you when you were young to never impolitely sniffle? Throw that rule to the wayside. Sniffle your way to a bathroom and then use a Kleenex in the safety of a private cubicle.

Situation 6: Lady-Like? Take a Hike!
Here is a new faux-pas that I ran into the other day! So imagine this situation that I went through. You are in a school gymnasium with all of your fellow teachers and students for the welcoming ceremony. Your principal gets up on stage to make the first speech. You cross your legs and sit up nice and proper to show that you are listening. You feel a poke to your side and the teacher beside you is giving you that desperate "dame" (it's not allowed) face. HUH?!?
Instead of giving off the "I don't want you to have to see up my skirt and I want you to think I am professional looking" vibe, apparently crossing your legs looks super lazy and nonchalant. Alright Japan... that's just weird...

          Now you're (somewhat) ready to storm into Japan and be a dashing debonair instead of a Godzilla-like gaijin! However, there is really no way to be 100% prepared for the awkward cultural situations that Japan will throw at you, so just be yourself and don't take any embarrassing situation too hard! I will be sure to post more faux-pas as I encounter them (as I surely will)!