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Review focus: Lifestyle, Japan, politeness, traditional Japanese etiquette, Ojigi or "bow", saikeirei bow, hospitality
Asian Business Code Words Index NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company Asian Business Strategy & Street Intelligence Ezine
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The first-time visitor to Japan is always struck by the wonderful politeness of the people. No other Japanese trait or accomplishment has received so much praise. But there is an element of misunderstanding inherent in accepting this politeness at face value because it often misleads Westerners who are unfamiliar with the character and role of traditional Japanese etiquette. For one thing, not all of the famous politeness of the Japanese should automatically be equated with feelings of kindness, regard, or respect for others - a reaction that is all too common for first-time visitors to Japan. The Japanese are, of course, perfectly capable of being polite in the fullest sense of the word and probably are genuinely more polite than most other people. However, what the foreigner sees, and is often overly impressed by, is strictly a mechanical role that has little or nothing to do with the personal feelings of the individuals involved. Many Westerners, especially American tourists, lavish praise upon the Japanese for this formal politeness. But more are basing their judgment of Japanese politeness on such things as the pretty elevator and escalator girls who work in department stores and deluxe hotels. These young women, chosen for their good looks, stand and bow and repeat the same lines all day long in self-effacing, heart-rending voices that remind one of the chirping of baby birds that have fallen out of their nest. The ojigi (oh-jee-ghee) or "bow" is the most visible manifestation of Japan's traditional etiquette. It is used for both greetings and farewells, when expressing appreciation or thanks, when apologizing, when asking an important favour - and when requesting any kind of action from a government bureaucrat. The occasion and the parties involved in an ojigi determine the kind of bow that is appropriate. The lower the bow the longer one holds the position, the stronger is the indication of respect, gratitude, sincerity, obeisance, humility, or contriteness. Generally speaking, there are three kinds or degrees of bowing: the informal bow, the formal bow, and the saikeirei (sie-kay-ee-ray-e) or "highest form of salutation". In the light, informal bow, the body is bent at approximately a fifteen-degree angle with the hands at the sides. This bow is used for all casual occasions between people of all rank. The formal bow requires that the body be bent to about thirty degrees, with the hands close together, palms down, on the knees. Ordinarily the person who is bowing holds this pose for only two or three seconds, then automatically returns to the upright positions. If the other party remains bowed for a longer period, it is polite for the recipient to bow again. The recipient is often the superior who will generally respond to a formal bow with a fifteen-degree bow. The other party may bow a second and a third time. Synchronizing the bows so that both parties rise at approximately the same time can be tricky and sometimes is unintentionally embarrassing. When one party wants to emphasize the salutation and holds the pose for an unusually long period of time - while intoning appropriate remarks - the recipient must continue to make short bows, usually of gradually lessening degrees, to properly acknowledge the other person's action. The slow, deep saikeirei bow, which was the bow used for members of the Imperial family and Shogunate in earlier days, is only occasionally used now, generally by older people who tend to go back to the old ways as they grow older. Business people who go to ryokan inns or geisha houses may be greeted by maids or geisha who bow to them while sitting on the floor. It is not expected that one get down on the floor to return such bows - but it can be a beginning of a lot of fun! The Japanese reputation for politeness breaks down very easily and quickly in situations involving government offices and often in business contexts as well. I have often gone into business offices where there were dozens of people and had to go to extreme lengths to get someone to acknowledge my presence. At first I thought this peculiar reaction was because I was a foreigner. Since the Japanese usually do not expect a foreigner to speak their language, I was prepared to believe that they hesitated to say anything because no one could speak English or that they were simply bashful. It soon became obvious, however, that Japanese visitors were also regularly subjected to the same treatment, particularly in government offices. Further observation and experience taught me how to shorten the waiting period in business offices, but direct action on my part was still required. This consisted on catching the eye of anyone in the office who glanced up at me and bowing very rapidly before he or she could turn away. The most effective bow to use in this situation, it seems, is a short, jerky one. This action triggers a reflex in the Japanese, and the party bows back, thus acknowledging your presence. He or she is then strongly obligated to follow up this step by coming to you or sending someone to find out what you want. Making the initial contact in a typical Japanese office is complicated by the fact that the office generally does not have a reception area or a receptionist or anyone responsible for greeting visitors. Although there may be a long counter running down the side of the office. Usually when you go from a hallway into an office, you are confronted by rows of desks, with none of them positioned toward the entrance. Another element in Japanese politeness (outside of unexpected visits to business offices) is the compulsion most Japanese have to make sure every foreign visitor has a good time and leaves with a good impression of the country and its people. As a result of this compulsion, the Japanese are rightfully famous for their hospitality, and visitors who are not used to this kind of royal treatment are often overwhelmed by it. The main point for foreign executives to keep in mind is that they should not confuse politeness or hospitality of the Japanese with weakness or strength on either part. If executives are really being courted by the Japanese, they may have to eventually limit the amount of hospitality they accept to avoid being put at a serious disadvantage, physically as well as psychologically. Most Japanese business people are conditioned to regular drinking bouts. They also regularly bargain as a group. Foreigners traveling alone who go into bargaining session with a Japanese team after several nights on the town have their work cut out for them.
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Boye Lafayette de Mente is one of our regular monthly columnists at the 
| This month's column is excerpted from Japanese Etiquette & Ethics in Business, by Boye Lafayette De Mente available from NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company |
© Boye Lafayette De Mente & the Asia Pacific Management Forum 1999
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