Japanese Politeness
“Japanese are polite.” This is what foreigners tell me when they visit Japan for the first time, and I agree at first. It amazes me how courteous the service is of companies and shops in Japan, especially since I have returned from overseas. For instance, early one morning when I visited a bank branch office, all of the bankers greeted me with a deep bow and said: “Ohayo Gozaimasu!” (Good morning). When I walked through the door I also heard a voice saying: “Arigato Gozaimashita” (Thank you very much) from somewhere in the ceiling. Everyone certainly seems to be polite, even machines. But, are they polite from the bottom of the heart?
Politeness as a Business Duty
When you look at people closely you soon realize that although some of them behave politely it is only a ritual. For instance, in retail stores every shop clerk bows deeply for the first few minutes the store is open. In contrast, no shop clerks bows to you when you visit the same store at other times of the day.
Politeness is one of the basic business skills that every business person is expected to acquire in Japan. In fact, Japanese companies hold business manners training for new graduates when they first join a company; they are trained to bow at a 45-degree angle and pick up the phone within three rings. Some Japanese companies (for whom I have worked) test employees’ manner skills to make sure they have acquired them.
But Selfishness Increases
On the individual level it is a different story. Japan’s media has been reporting stories about “Monster Parents”, “Monster Complainers”, and “Gomi Yashiki” (Garbage House Owners) as examples of recent selfish behaviour amongst the Japanese. On trains, young men listen to music and do not care whether loud sounds leak from their headphones, and ladies put their make-up on without worrying about others. The number of such people may be small, but I am afraid it is on the increase.
Few Opportunities to Learn Manners
The main reason for such selfishness is that there are few chances to learn manners and etiquettes in our private life. In other words, it is difficult to find someone who knows and can teach Japanese etiquettes and manners in the current environment of nuclear family households, and changes in economic and social values. Although companies spoon-feed their employees, each of us needs to learn about how to use the spoon ourselves.
July 18 2008 10:16 am | Culture and Weekly Articles
