What's Considered Rude In Japan? | Street Interview 

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I love the faces they made when they had to do a handshake 😂 this one guy was in such shock 😂 😅

I mean ...isn't spiting rude in every country ? It's not forbidden in my country, but people will clearly look you with disgust

The older gentleman seemed super nice.

I'm in the UK but my hairstylist is Japanese. The first time we met I shook his hand in a friendly way. Dude glitched. He started giggling like a little kid and seemed so pleased with himself. Makes sense now.

Dude at 5:50 saw into the void with that handshake

5:49 that poor man looked so shocked I'm crying 🤣🤣🤣🤣

This is so funny because I witnessed what holding the door for someone in Korea does lmao. I held the door entering a mall as I usually do if I see people close by and when I tell you the guy RAN for the door, bowed and thanked me about 10 times and continued to RUN AND BOW at the same time like I just offered him 10k. It was so funny and puzzling at the same time. I didn't know that they didn't hold the door for each other.

The eye contact from the gap of the doors on elevator is awkward and hilarious.😂😂

I was in Japan for about 21 days in March, and when I came back to the states I was bowing at people for like 2 weeks lmao Also the gentlemen at the end were totally correct. Specifically, attitude matters more than knowledge. If you commit a faux pas because you don't know it's wrong, but are respectful in a general sense, they'll pick up on that and will give you a pass and probably even teach you the "proper" etiquette. If you do something wrong because you don't CARE, or are dismissive or disdainful when they try to teach you their ways, that's when it becomes a problem. Basically "Just be cool, man."

A firm handshake is not about force, but rather about reliability. It is like showing to your peers that they can trust you not to "drop the ball" so to speak.

5:49 dude clearly felt uncomfortable but tried to be polite. i say respect everyone's culture.

I always see a handshake that wrecks your hand as "showing off". Like, you don't need to show force. It's a greeting not an arm wrestle competition..

6:57 It’s interesting to see their reactions to firm handshake. In my country Indonesia we do shake hands, so I didn’t realize until foreigners pointed it out to me that it was a different kind of handshake to the western-style one, because we only slightly touch the other person’s hand before taking our own to the heart. So I can totally understand why a firm handshake can be seen as an aggressive move by the Japanese. 1:13 I love this, it really shows the Japanese character. You don’t do something not because you’re scared of the repercussions, but because you know it’s incorrect.

dude at 5:50 almost had a heart attack shaking her hand

This is super interesting. Cultures are so different all over the world

The fellow wearing the white/grey mask seemed very in touch with being respectful. He answered the questions based on situational stuff that is common to happen in your day to day life. Big commendations to him!

Imagine now hugging, kissing 2-4 times AND shaking hands. You would be fined in Japan for that 😂

One of the best experiences I had while in Japan, serving in the United States Navy, we hired a fisherman to help us guard the ship some 200 meters offshore. When it came time for me to stand guard for 6 hours late at night to early morning, I didn't bring anything to eat but he shared a cup of shrimp ramen and we ended up talking at great length. We shared many cultural insights together despite neither one of us being able to speak much of the others language. A highly respectable elder, I felt as if I was getting to know a long lost uncle. Such a simple thing yet I will never forget how kind he was to me.

"Rather than paying fines, Japanese people live by their character. When they do something wrong, just ask them to do the right thing".....Japan may be one of the only countries in the world where this can happen.

Legend says he is still recovering from the shock after that handshake to this day

Thank you, this is super helpful since I'm flying to Japan today ❤ The elderly man seems very wholesome and kind.

I'm European, but I agree that handshakes can feel really awkward 😅 Your "Nice to meet you" have to sound friendly and genuine, even if someone squished your hand like a stress ball just milliseconds prior

The reactions to handshakes were hilarious, keep it up Japan! We love you

The senior gentleman has very good answer to all the questions. He seems to realize a lot of differences between world and Japan, and he seems to balance it well.

Holding the door open was a new thing for me in Canada as an intl student.

That guy who said spitting was rude but there's no need to fine-has such an innocent outlook on humanity.

Japanese people are super kind! It’s been an amazing experience to visit their country!

I'm European but I don't like Hand shaking too and I don't like staring at each other permanently in the eyes. Its very barbaric and can make me crazy. Also,I don't like stinky perfumed people that I have to cover my nose.

In some European countries, in elder generation there was also a custom that gentlemen, instead of a handshake with a woman, used to kiss a lady's hand (actually, it didn't have to be a real kiss, just a peck or bowing to her hand and pretending to kiss it). It was very common in the past, as a sign of respect to a lady, even in formal situations. Probably the origins of this custom was from the old times of the knights at the royal courts, and so on. Now it's of course considered as really outdated and the younger generations do not do it at all. But still, in my country quite a lot of elder men, like around 70 years old, practice this.

'We should share Cultures' that's the deepest message, a lot of people don't get that.

I think its rude to spit in public, no matter what country

Even the most trendy people in this video are full of good manners, it just show how great this country is

"Rather than paying fines, Japanese people *live by their character*" That was inspiring actually.

そもそも【礼儀】というのは礼儀を行う人の問題であって、礼儀を欠かれた人がいたとしてもそのこと自体が本来は問題にならないはずなのです。 『礼儀は知性、知性は礼儀』 「礼儀を欠いている人は知性の無い劣った人」となる訳ですから、本当は自然と皆んな【自分の襟を自分で正す】という事になるはずなんですよね・・・。

In Germany it’s not uncommon to hug people you meet at least for younger people. Imagine that if even handshakes are strange or uncomfortable.

Super interesting! Thanks for this😊❤️

At the time of the interview, I was walking around the entrance of the station and needed directions to find my destination so I asked the person behind the recording for directions, especially since it was my first time in japan, but I wasn't sure how low to bow when I first greeted and thanked them, so I just bowed the same for both and was worried that it came off as wrong. After watching the video, I think I'm much more confident on around how much to bow when I meet people the next time I come back to Japan

In my country, a firm handshake is a sign of respect. Say for example if you're going to a job interview and you shake your potential new boss his hand... if it's very weak, he might think "oh, this person is not really that interested in the job", while a firm handshake shows enthusiasm. Also, it's important to stand up while shaking hands. Never shake someone's hand from a sitting position. Stand up, look them in the eye and give a firm handshake, is the most respectful way (or so I've been taught). I've also heard that the nerve endings in your hand go straight to your heart (or something like that). So if you shake hands, you connect to each other heart to heart.

interesting.. as for greetings, in my country its also firm handshake. its amusing to hear thoughts of Japanese people on these handshakes. Firm handshake is actually taken in my country as sign I am happy to meet someone and I am serious about it. If my handahake is weak, fast, it means Im not particularly enjoying meeting this person. So in general, handshake should always be firm as good manner.

I always wanted to know shaking hands is rude in Japanese culture. Not rude, but it's unusuel. Thank you so much.

As a westerner who has always bowed to people instinctively I have always found firm and strong handshakes extremely irritating because when people do them oftentimes they want to show off their presence, and from my personal experience they tend to lack modesty and courtesy

Really cool video topic, something I never thought about was different! - Very inspiring for topics for my future street-interviews

I wish we used bowing as a greeting in the west rather than hand shakes, I've always hated them. I've noticed in bathrooms that plenty of men don't wash their hands afterwards so it's a pretty unhygienic practice, recently I've just been politely refusing handshakes.

The handshakes were hilarious! 😂😂😂 7:31 They say if your grip is loose or you don’t make eye contact during it, your intentions are shady!

I enjoyed watching this..thank you asian boss

The explanation about how to bow properly was really useful, since I'm going to work in Japan for three months next year. Thank you.

The guy at 5:51 was SHOOK even though he knew what was coming, I feel a bit bad for laughing

Love those cute interview of strangers. Always cool and interresting informations. Love the voice of the interviewer (idk her name sorry). And the strangers were so wholesome! Keep up

I like the Japanese friend replying: 全く同じすっっっっ.... They don't like the desu at the end of the sentence 😂

You should have followed up with hugs

In the Philippines if you are late, you get rewarded.

5:50 bro was flabbergasted

This info is very handy, thanks to everyone in the video :)

Very interesting! Thank you!

This is amazing! Can you do one in South Korea too? Would love to see if there's any similarities with Japanese culture.

I can see some awkwardness when it comes to the shaking hands but they don't seem to be uncomfortable 😅

i love the little camera dip with the bow at 8:25

This is so interesting and eye opening.

So satisfying to see good people like this. Thank you

The old man looks like a rrally nice person! His answers were also so polite, kind and heartwarming! I hope new japanese generations become someone like him!

To this day, I still bow when thanking people, especially my customers. I'm American, but I lived in Okinawa Japan for three years as a kid and a bunch of their customs are embedded into my brain still.

14:15 "Wow! So deep and long-lasting!" "The longer the better...as deep as you can, as long as you can!"

It is interesting that they take handshakes as aggressive and threatening when handshakes were introduced as a cultural tradition to show the other person you didn't have weapons and were not threatening.

These are some super good questions! It’s small nuance that no one really thinks about but probably something you’re more likely to carry with you wherever you go, such as holding the door open. Heck I’m from the US and where I’m from it’s expected but on the west coast you do it and they act like there’s a duck on your head.

LOVE your work.

I've been taught that in Western culture, handshakes were used as a greeting but also to show you were unarmed (nothing tucked up the sleeves) and came in peace. If you were to bow instead, you could be armed and trying to conceal that. In the new, post (?) pandemic Western world, handshakes are not as common with strangers or people you've just met. During the pandemic, elbow touches were ok for an informal greeting with strangers. Otherwise, for a formal meeting, you would wave hello and introduce yourself, or just introduce yourself. Finally, in the Western world a handshake with a firm grip is a show of interest in meting someone. If your handshake is weak, you might be viewed as disinterested or uncaring, or like you don't want to be present in that situation. But if your grip is ridiculously strong, it can be viewed as a show of dominance which can be insulting. It's mostly expected that men have a strong handshake and women have a firm, but gentle handshake but that's a very traditional mindset based on gender roles.

very interesting. for me, as a french, for whom equality is a fundamental value, bowing is viewed as submitting, and that's quite incompatible with our culture. 🙂

I'll say that as a general rule in Japan, Japanese people consider those around them more than Western countries. Is more a community focus mentality. Due to this, it is easier to think it as if this is going to bother people around you, then you should make sure to do it with caution to avoid being considered rude. At least, that's what I personally do

The guy at 5:48 is pure confusion 😂😂😂

nice and informative video, great interviewer

Some of the reactions when attempting to shake their hand 😂 Great video!

05:50 He thinks he's like Eren holding Histora's hand

8:29 that dude just killed me 🤣

They guy after shaking hands😵‍💫

The older man has such friendly eyes! They're rare.

I was there in Shibuya when you made this interview, I passed by your location, it was just outside Hachiko exit gate of the station.

haha the hand shake segment was interesting to watch!

Gotta love the older guy, seems such a nice person

5:50 That guy looked super awkward shaking hands. He’s Super Shy. 😂

The guy with the piercings seems to be the politest of all. I love it

The older man seemed really nice and understanding !

I lived in Japan for 3 years, 2 as a missionary, and approached thousands of people on the street and shook their hands. It was obvious that some people had never shaken a hand before, and their hands were completely 'dead fish' so I had to learn to be more gentle than I normally would in the countries I grew up in where shaking hands was more common. Most of the countries I've lived in it's also very common to hug when meeting, or give a kiss of the cheek, even for the first time. I work at an international school and it's interesting to see the south Americans greeting their Japanese friends with hugs and kisses. In the beginning they are so taken aback but gradually get used to it and end up loving it. It's great to see the merging of different cultures and opening of minds to new customs :)

the handshake make them glitch😂 wait till they find out about cheek kiss greeting and hand kiss greeting

I like this interviewer. she is more calm and polite.

The guy at 7:22 is not wrong in his opinion about showing confidence and strength/willpower during a handshake. The older generation often told us that we should have a good, firm handshake because a weak handshake says a lot about how insecure the other person is. Insecurity is a sign of a weak character. If someone signs a contract in a business situation and they shake hands afterwards and the person who signed the contract has a weak handshake, you can assume that they are not fully behind it or are still thinking about everything.

Got my A7SIII when it came out and used it for client work ever since. Zero issues and very happy

Poor guy 5:49 looks like he will remember this trauma all his life. 💀 "My grandchildren, you would not believe the shocking experience grandpa went through in the fall of 2023. I was approached by a female foreigner for a street interview. At some point during that interview... she shook my hand !" 😰😅

I can definitely see why a firm handshake may be intimidating or awkward to foreigners, even in America handshakes can differ in the south vs the north. In the south, firm handshakes are more like a way of showing friendliness and openness to connecting with a stranger, like you acknowledge them as an equal and can be relaxed with them. A weak handshake usually seems like you’re uncomfortable. Unless it’s a man shaking a lady’s hand, they can start with a gentle shake (some women only give an overhand shake where the man will grab her fingers and give a gentle squeeze as opposed to grabbing at the palm) unless the woman goes in for a firm handshake with eye contact. Any handshake (or lack of) is acceptable. Some may just be more gentle and formal with the person who gives a lighter squeeze, like the elderly especially.

The casual bowing in the last time stamp😭😭

This was a very interesting video. The older guy with the face mask was so so nice.

I’m coming to Japan for a two week vacation in November and can honestly say I can’t wait! How I wish respect for tradition, one’s elders and basic good manners were as prevalent in UK society as they are over there. I admire Japanese culture so very much.❤

The second guy who shook hands looked like he was internally imploding 😆 good video

When I was in japan I never shook anyone's hands. I bowed as was appropriate.

I like bowing too! I eish we did that here in the states. I think its elegant, less intrusive. It makes more sense to me. Hand shaking for some reason makes me feel more anxiety. We were taught how to shake hands and not shake hands. I feel like we are being judged by our handshake.

1:34 As a Filipino, I understand where the Japanese are coming from when it comes to punctuality. Here in the Philippines, we have a concept of “Filipino Time” where people show up in parties, get-togethers, etc. 20 or 30 minutes beyond the supposed appointed time and that it is even socially acceptable given how relaxed we Filipinos are. If a Filipino goes to Japan, then the “Filipino Time” is a BIG NO NO.

In my country handshakes between relatives is sometimes competitive, some of my uncles were testing me how much I could hold. For many years my hand was crushed but with age tables turned.

It's funny seeing a common thing, in my area, like a handshake being such a strange concept...that one dude looked like he wanted to no longer exist, and seeing as how there was no more footage of him I assume he peaced out. Though, tbh, some people treat a handshake like a power move.

German here. After watching too many animes and too many japanese related videos on RU-vid I got used to bow down when greeting or thanking literally anybody. Most people don't say anything but I can feel that's it's a little weird to them.

5:50 my dude contemplating his life just from shake hands