[:it]Sono profondamente influenzata dal mio amore per il Giappone, ma sono convinta che in tutti i Paesi del mondo dovrebbero esistere delle regole di condotta seguite dall’intera popolazione poichè insite nella propria mente.

photo credits: yabai.com 

Il Sol Levante riesce a mantenere un comportamento impeccabile all’interno dei propri confini. Infatti, l’etiquette a cui si attiene è la stessa che ogni turista deve (o quantomeno dovrebbe) rispettare. Per questo motivo è indispensabile sapere cosa è possibile o si deve fare e non fare in Giappone.

Ecco quindi la nostra guida per voi:

Riciclare e non sporcare!

Quando camminerete per la strada in Giappone non troverete cestini per l’immondizia e nonostante questo, non ci sarà l’ombra di una cartina per terra. Il riciclaggio per i giapponesi è molto importante. La raccolta differenziata è un obbligo ed esistono gli appositi cassonetti verso cui le persone si recano e gettano la spazzatura.

photo credits: green.it 

Non giocare d’azzardo!

Il gioco d’azzardo in Giappone è illegale! C’è un solo modo per gli appassionati a cui non possono resistere alle scommesse: Pachinko.
Il pachinko è praticato in apposite sale in cui i giocatori devono acquistare delle sfere di acciaio per giocare. Esse vanno inserite in una sorta di flipper, oppure nei “pachislot” il cui funzionamento è simile a quello delle slot-machine. In caso di vincita si ottengono ulteriori sfere. Per legge le sfere non possono essere cambiate in contanti all’interno delle sale in cui vengono distribuite. Esse vengono semplicemente cambiate con delle fiches o con dei premi simbolici che potranno poi essere convertiti in denaro all’esterno del locale stesso presso appositi sportelli.

photo credits: agbnippon.com 

Togliere le scarpe, mettere le scarpe

Non solo in casa, ma anche in molti ristoranti e edifici storici potrebbe essere richiesto di togliere le scarpe. Assicuratevi quindi di indossare calzini puliti e privi di buchi! Se è piena estate e non avete calzini, è bene averne sempre un paio con voi perchè non è educato entrare in casa a piedi scalzi. Il padrone di casa, di solito, fornisce ai propri ospiti delle pantofole, ma anch’esse andranno tolte prima di camminare sul tatami!

photo credits: villapola.com 

Visitare templi e santuari

Calma e rispetto sono doverosi. Attenetevi alle tradizioni: all’esterno del tempio, gettate una monetina nella scatola delle offerte e fate una breve preghiera. Se c’è la possibilità di bruciare un incenso (osenko) fatelo spegnendo il bastoncino agitando la mano e non soffiandoci sopra. Se entrate all’interno del tempio, togliete le scarpe e lasciatele negli appositi scaffali o portatele con voi nei sacchettini a disposizione e mi raccomando, togliete i cappelli! Non distraetevi lasciandovi prendere dalla foga del turista, fate attenzione ai divieti, non sempre è permesso fare fotografie.

Quando andate in un santuario invece, è importante recarsi alla fontana della purificazione posta all’ingresso, prendere uno dei mestoli forniti, riempirlo di acqua e sciacquarsi le mani. Successivamente, versate un po’ d’acqua nella mano e sciacquatevi anche la bocca sputando poi l’acqua accanto alla fontana.
Entrando, lasciate una monetina nella scatola delle offerte inchinandovi profondamente per due volte, battete le mani altrettante volte, inchinatevi ancora e pregate suonando la campana o il gong (in questo modo si attirerà l’attenzione del dio).

photo credits: japan-guide.com 

Cenare fuori casa

Dopo che i camerieri vi avranno accolti e fatti accomodare, vi serviranno acqua o tè gratuitamente e l’oshibori (l’asciugamano umido) per pulirsi le mani prima di mangiare. Dopo di che potrete scegliere i piatti che desiderate dal menù, spesso illustrato per aiutare i turisti poco avezzi alla lingua giapponese.
Non è consuetudine pagare al tavolo. Il conto del pasto viene presentato rivolto verso il basso e si pagherà recandosi alla cassa nel momento in cui si sta per lasciare il ristorante. Mentre uscite è cortesia dire 「御馳走様(でした)！」che si legge: “Gochisou sama (deshita)” e significa “grazie per il pasto delizioso”.

photo credits: jellyfishhr.com 

Le buone maniere a tavola!

Come consuetudine e una delle prime regole del bon ton, dopo aver ordinato, è buona educazione attendere che tutti i commensali abbiano ricevuto la propria portata. Poi, si inizia il pasto dicendo いただきます(itadakimasu) cioè “prendo con grande rispetto”, che ben si allontana dal nostro “buon appetito”. Se ci si trova nella situazione in cui a tavola non sono ancora stati serviti tutti, ma il piatto che abbiamo va consumato immediatamente, allora ci sentiremo dire おさきに どうぞ (osaki ni dōzo, prego vai avanti) o possiamo dire noi おさきにすみません (osaki ni sumimasen, perdonami se vado avanti).
Non avanzate mai del cibo nel piatto, in Giappone è considerato scortese e uno spreco.

Altra cosa importantissima è il modo di utilizzo delle bacchette. Non dovete mai inserire le bacchette in verticale nella vostra ciotola di riso, è una modalità che si utilizza esclusivamente ai funerali! E’ bene appoggiare sempre le bacchette sul loro apposito supporto quando le si deve posare e mi raccomando, non passate il cibo dalle vostre bacchette alle bacchette di un altro commensale, anche questa è un’usanza dei funerali in cui le ossa del corpo cremato vengono trasferite in questo modo.

Nel caso in cui dobbiate prendere del cibo da un piatto comune, usate le estremità opposte delle vostre bacchette. In questa immagine ecco tutto ciò da non fare con le bacchette.

photo credits: yourmagictour.wordpress.com

Servizi igienici

In Giappone potete trovare anche i servizi in stile occidentale, soprattutto nei bagni pubblici più recenti e moderni. Essi dispongono per la maggior parte di sedile riscaldato, doccetta (equivalente del nostro bidet) e asciugatore. Ogni WC ha, di solito, due modalità di scarico: “piccolo” (小) e “grande” (大), che differiscono nella quantità di acqua utilizzata. Non sempre però la carta igienica o gli asciugamani vengono forniti nei bagni, perciò è sempre bene portare con sè dei fazzolettini di carta e un asciugamano piccolo (i famosi “tenugui”, gli asciugamani di piccolo formato che vedete sempre portare in giro dai Giapponesi e che hanno svariati utilizzi, come ad esempio quello di asciugarsi il sudore d’estate!).
Nei bagni privati ci sono sempre delle pantofole da toilette da utilizzare esclusivamente nel bagno. Dovrete quindi lasciare le vostre pantofole normali fuori dalla porta del bagno ed indossare quelle a disposizione.

photo credits: leganerd.com 

Rispetto sui mezzi pubblici

Sul treno, metro, autobus o qualunque altro mezzo pubblico, non è buona educazione parlare a voce alta ed è bene tenere i telefonini in modalità silenziosa così da non disturbare nessuno.

photo credits: getaroundjapan.jp 

Soffiarsi il naso? Oh no!!

Soffiarsi il naso in pubblico è una delle più grandi mancanze di rispetto e un gesto di vera maleducazione perchè significa spargere germi! Per questo motivo, in caso di raffreddore (e non solo), i giapponesi indossano sempre la mascherina.
Una curiosità: le mascherine non servono solo ad evitare epidemie e per la propria salute, ma anche per nascondere le imperfezioni! E’ una buon escamotage, non trovate?

photo credits: gogonihon.com 

No al fumo

È severamente vietato fumare in strada, camminando e ovunque non ci siano zone fumatori. In questo modo chi non fuma o non sopporta il fumo, non verrà infastidito. Esiste una polizia speciale che controlla costantemente che la legge venga rispettata e che rilascia multe in caso contrario. Stranamente però nei luoghi chiusi fumare è concesso e non sempre ci sono le zone fumatori e non fumatori separate, purtroppo!

photo credits: tobaccoreporter.com 

Inchinarsi

Esistono svariate tipologie di inchino ed ognuna con un proprio significato. Se dobbiamo salutare nelle situazioni informali ci si inchina lievemente, mentre in quelle formali, l’inchino richiede un arco più profondo, soprattutto se la persona davanti a noi è di un rango superiore. Se invece vogliamo ringraziare è sufficiente chinare lievemente la testa, ma anche per scusarsi e in questo caso l’arco di inclinazione varia da lieve (solo la testa), normale (parte del busto, fino ad arrivare ad un angolo di 45°) e grave. In questo caso l’inchino è profondo, in ginocchio con la fronte che tocca il pavimento. Una bellissima guida illustrata sul perfetto modo di inchinarsi è messa a disposizione da Tongufu.com:

photo credits: tofugu.com 

Cosa ne dite di queste regole di comportamento? Io trovo che siano molto affascinanti, a parte per il fumo che, non sopportandolo, io lo vieterei proprio ovunque!
Nei vostri viaggi nella terra del Sol Levante avete notato qualcosa di curioso nei modi di fare e non comune in Occidente? Raccontateci le vostre esperienza![:en]I am deeply influenced by my love for Japan, but I am convinced that in all the countries of the world there should be rules of conduct followed by the entire population as inherent in their mind.

photo credits: yabai.com 

The Rising Sun manages to maintain impeccable behavior within its borders. In fact, the etiquette to which it abides is the same that every tourist must (or at least should) respect. For this reason it is essential to know what is possible or should be done and not done in Japan.

Here is our guide for you:

Recycle and don’t be messy!

When you walk down the street in Japan you will not find garbage bins and despite this, there will be no shadow of garbage around town. Recycling for the Japanese is very important. Separate collection is an obligation and there are special bins to which people go and throw garbage.

photo credits: green.it 

Don’t gamble!

Gambling in Japan is illegal! There is only one way for fans who cannot resist betting: Pachinko.
Pachinko is practiced in special rooms where players must buy steel balls to play. They must be inserted in a sort of flipper, or in the “pachislot” which works similarly to the slot machines. If you win, you get more balls. By law the spheres cannot be exchanged for cash within the rooms in which they are distributed. They are simply changed with chips or with symbolic prizes that can then be converted into cash outside the venue itself at specific desks.

photo credits: agbnippon.com 

Take off your shoes, put on your shoes

Not only at home, but also in many restaurants and historic buildings may be required to remove shoes. So make sure you wear clean, hole-free socks! If it is midsummer and you have no socks, it is always good to have a pair with you because it is not polite to enter the house barefooted. The landlord usually supplies his guests with slippers, but these too must be removed before walking on the tatami!

photo credits: villapola.com 

Visit temples and shrines

Calm and respect are a must. Keep to the traditions: on the outside of the temple, throw a coin in the offer box and say a short prayer. If there is the possibility of burning an incense (osenko) do it turning off the stick by waving your hand and not blowing on it. If you go inside the temple, take off your shoes and leave them on the shelves or take them with you in the little bags available and I recommend you remove the hats! Do not be distracted by letting yourself be taken by the tourist’s enthusiasm, pay attention to what is allowed, photography is not always permitted.

When you go to a sanctuary instead, it is important to go to the purification fountain at the entrance, take one of the provided ladles, fill it with water and rinse your hands. Next, pour a little water into your hand and rinse your mouth by spitting out the water next to the fountain.
While entering, leave a coin in the offer box by bowing deeply twice, clap your hands as many times, bow again and pray by ringing the bell or gong (this will attract the god’s attention).

photo credits: japan-guide.com 

Dine outside the home

After the waiters have greeted you and made you sit down, you will be offered water or tea for free and the oshibori (wet towel) to clean your hands before eating. After that you can choose the dishes you want from the menu, often illustrated to help tourists who are not familiar with the Japanese language.
It is not customary to pay at the table. The meal bill is presented facing down and you will pay by going to the cashier when you are about to leave the restaurant. As you come out it is courtesy to say 「御馳走様(でした)！」which reads: “Gochisou sama (deshita)” and means “thank you for the delicious meal”.

photo credits: jellyfishhr.com 

Table manners!

As usual and one of the first rules of bon ton, after ordering, it is polite to wait until all the guests have received their course. Then, we start the meal by saying いただきます (itadakimasu) that is “I take with great respect”, which well away from our “enjoy your meal”. If you find yourself in a situation where everyone has not been served at the table yet, but the dish we have is consumed immediately, then we will hear dire さきにどうぞ (osaki ni dōzo, please go ahead) or we can say おさきにすみまん (osaki ni sumimasen, forgive me if I go ahead).
Never feed food on the plate, in Japan it is considered rude and wasteful.

Another very important thing is the way of using chopsticks. You should never place the chopsticks in your rice bowl vertically, it is a mode that is used exclusively at funerals! It is good to always place the chopsticks on their special support when you have to put them down and I recommend you do not pass the food from your chopsticks to the chopsticks of another diner, this is also a custom of the funerals in which the bones of the cremated body are passed on in this way.

In case you need to take food from a common plate, use the opposite ends of your chopsticks. In the picture below, you can see everything not to do with chopsticks.

photo credits: yourmagictour.wordpress.com

Toilets

In Japan you can also find Western-style services, especially in the most recent and modern public bathrooms. They mostly have a heated seat, hand shower (equivalent to our bidet) and dryer. Each toilet usually has two discharge modes: “small” (小) and “large” (大), which differ in the amount of water used. However, toilet paper or towels are not always provided in the bathrooms, so it is always a good idea to bring kleenex and a small towel (the famous “tenugui”, small towels that you always see with the Japanese and that have various uses, such as drying sweat in summer!).
In private bathrooms there are always toilet slippers to be used exclusively in the bathroom. You will then have to leave your normal slippers outside the bathroom door and wear those available.

photo credits: leganerd.com 

Respect on public transport

On the train, metro, bus or any other public transport, it is not polite to speak loudly and it is good to keep the phones in silent mode so as not to disturb anyone.

photo credits: getaroundjapan.jp 

Blowing your nose? Oh no !!

Blowing one’s nose in public is one of the greatest lack of respect and a gesture of true rudeness because it means spreading germs! For this reason, in case of a cold (and not just that), the Japanese always wear a mask.
A curiosity: the masks do not serve only to avoid epidemics and for one’s own health, but also to hide imperfections! It’s a good trick, don’t you think so?

photo credits: gogonihon.com 

No smoking

It is strictly forbidden to smoke in the street, walking and anywhere there are no smoking areas. In this way, those who do not smoke or do not tolerate smoking will not be bothered. There is a special police that constantly checks that the law is respected and fines otherwise. Strangely, however, in closed places smoking is allowed and there are not always separate smoking and non-smoking areas, unfortunately!

photo credits: tobaccoreporter.com 

To bow

There are various types of bow and each with its own meaning. If we are to greet in informal situations we bow slightly, while in the formal ones it’s required a deeper bow, especially if the person in front of us is of a higher rank. If, on the other hand, we want to thank someone, it is sufficient to slightly bow the head, but also to apologize and in this case the inclination arc varies from mild (only the head), normal (part of the trunk, up to an angle of 45°) and serious. In this case the bow is deep, kneeling with the forehead touching the floor. A beautiful illustrated guide on the perfect way to bow is made available by Tongufu.com:

photo credits: tofugu.com 

What about these rules of behavior? I find that they are very fascinating, apart from the smoke that, since I don’t tolerate it, I would forbid it anywhere!
During your travels in the land of the Rising Sun, have you noticed something curious about ways of doing things and not common in the West? Tell us about your experience![:ja]I am deeply influenced by my love for Japan, but I am convinced that in all the countries of the world there should be rules of conduct followed by the entire population as inherent in their mind.

photo credits: yabai.com 

The Rising Sun manages to maintain impeccable behavior within its borders. In fact, the etiquette to which it abides is the same that every tourist must (or at least should) respect. For this reason it is essential to know what is possible or should be done and not done in Japan.

Here is our guide for you:

Recycle and don’t be messy!

When you walk down the street in Japan you will not find garbage bins and despite this, there will be no shadow of garbage around town. Recycling for the Japanese is very important. Separate collection is an obligation and there are special bins to which people go and throw garbage.

photo credits: green.it 

Don’t gamble!

Gambling in Japan is illegal! There is only one way for fans who cannot resist betting: Pachinko.
Pachinko is practiced in special rooms where players must buy steel balls to play. They must be inserted in a sort of flipper, or in the “pachislot” which works similarly to the slot machines. If you win, you get more balls. By law the spheres cannot be exchanged for cash within the rooms in which they are distributed. They are simply changed with chips or with symbolic prizes that can then be converted into cash outside the venue itself at specific desks.

photo credits: agbnippon.com 

Take off your shoes, put on your shoes

Not only at home, but also in many restaurants and historic buildings may be required to remove shoes. So make sure you wear clean, hole-free socks! If it is midsummer and you have no socks, it is always good to have a pair with you because it is not polite to enter the house barefooted. The landlord usually supplies his guests with slippers, but these too must be removed before walking on the tatami!

photo credits: villapola.com 

Visit temples and shrines

Calm and respect are a must. Keep to the traditions: on the outside of the temple, throw a coin in the offer box and say a short prayer. If there is the possibility of burning an incense (osenko) do it turning off the stick by waving your hand and not blowing on it. If you go inside the temple, take off your shoes and leave them on the shelves or take them with you in the little bags available and I recommend you remove the hats! Do not be distracted by letting yourself be taken by the tourist’s enthusiasm, pay attention to what is allowed, photography is not always permitted.

When you go to a sanctuary instead, it is important to go to the purification fountain at the entrance, take one of the provided ladles, fill it with water and rinse your hands. Next, pour a little water into your hand and rinse your mouth by spitting out the water next to the fountain.
While entering, leave a coin in the offer box by bowing deeply twice, clap your hands as many times, bow again and pray by ringing the bell or gong (this will attract the god’s attention).

photo credits: japan-guide.com 

Dine outside the home

After the waiters have greeted you and made you sit down, you will be offered water or tea for free and the oshibori (wet towel) to clean your hands before eating. After that you can choose the dishes you want from the menu, often illustrated to help tourists who are not familiar with the Japanese language.
It is not customary to pay at the table. The meal bill is presented facing down and you will pay by going to the cashier when you are about to leave the restaurant. As you come out it is courtesy to say 「御馳走様(でした)！」which reads: “Gochisou sama (deshita)” and means “thank you for the delicious meal”.

photo credits: jellyfishhr.com 

Table manners!

As usual and one of the first rules of bon ton, after ordering, it is polite to wait until all the guests have received their course. Then, we start the meal by saying いただきます (itadakimasu) that is “I take with great respect”, which well away from our “enjoy your meal”. If you find yourself in a situation where everyone has not been served at the table yet, but the dish we have is consumed immediately, then we will hear dire さきにどうぞ (osaki ni dōzo, please go ahead) or we can say おさきにすみまん (osaki ni sumimasen, forgive me if I go ahead).
Never feed food on the plate, in Japan it is considered rude and wasteful.

Another very important thing is the way of using chopsticks. You should never place the chopsticks in your rice bowl vertically, it is a mode that is used exclusively at funerals! It is good to always place the chopsticks on their special support when you have to put them down and I recommend you do not pass the food from your chopsticks to the chopsticks of another diner, this is also a custom of the funerals in which the bones of the cremated body are passed on in this way.

In case you need to take food from a common plate, use the opposite ends of your chopsticks. In the picture below, you can see everything not to do with chopsticks.

photo credits: yourmagictour.wordpress.com

Toilets

In Japan you can also find Western-style services, especially in the most recent and modern public bathrooms. They mostly have a heated seat, hand shower (equivalent to our bidet) and dryer. Each toilet usually has two discharge modes: “small” (小) and “large” (大), which differ in the amount of water used. However, toilet paper or towels are not always provided in the bathrooms, so it is always a good idea to bring kleenex and a small towel (the famous “tenugui”, small towels that you always see with the Japanese and that have various uses, such as drying sweat in summer!).
In private bathrooms there are always toilet slippers to be used exclusively in the bathroom. You will then have to leave your normal slippers outside the bathroom door and wear those available.

photo credits: leganerd.com 

Respect on public transport

On the train, metro, bus or any other public transport, it is not polite to speak loudly and it is good to keep the phones in silent mode so as not to disturb anyone.

photo credits: getaroundjapan.jp 

Blowing your nose? Oh no !!

Blowing one’s nose in public is one of the greatest lack of respect and a gesture of true rudeness because it means spreading germs! For this reason, in case of a cold (and not just that), the Japanese always wear a mask.
A curiosity: the masks do not serve only to avoid epidemics and for one’s own health, but also to hide imperfections! It’s a good trick, don’t you think so?

photo credits: gogonihon.com 

No smoking

It is strictly forbidden to smoke in the street, walking and anywhere there are no smoking areas. In this way, those who do not smoke or do not tolerate smoking will not be bothered. There is a special police that constantly checks that the law is respected and fines otherwise. Strangely, however, in closed places smoking is allowed and there are not always separate smoking and non-smoking areas, unfortunately!

photo credits: tobaccoreporter.com 

To bow

There are various types of bow and each with its own meaning. If we are to greet in informal situations we bow slightly, while in the formal ones it’s required a deeper bow, especially if the person in front of us is of a higher rank. If, on the other hand, we want to thank someone, it is sufficient to slightly bow the head, but also to apologize and in this case the inclination arc varies from mild (only the head), normal (part of the trunk, up to an angle of 45°) and serious. In this case the bow is deep, kneeling with the forehead touching the floor. A beautiful illustrated guide on the perfect way to bow is made available by Tongufu.com:

photo credits: tofugu.com 

What about these rules of behavior? I find that they are very fascinating, apart from the smoke that, since I don’t tolerate it, I would forbid it anywhere!
During your travels in the land of the Rising Sun, have you noticed something curious about ways of doing things and not common in the West? Tell us about your experience![:]