Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Formal greeting
• Method 2 of 3: An informal greeting
• Method 3 of 3: Greetings with Common Japanese Phrases
• Tips
• Warnings

Traveling is great, but learning new customs can be challenging. A friendly gesture in one country can turn out to be completely hostile in another, so you just need to know at least basic greetings.If you are going to Japan, greeting others is a key skill. Fortunately, there are several ways to say hello, ranging from highly formal to more casual.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Formal greeting

1. 1 Maintain your distance. Avoid shaking hands, hugging, or even a friendly pat on the back. Instead, maintain a respectful distance of a few steps. Japanese culture values ​​space and isolation, so make sure your body language reflects these principles.
   • Keeping a distance of two or three steps between you and the other person is a useful, universal rule. Greater distance can cause inconvenience and difficulty in speaking and other interactions.
2. 2 Show your respect. Speak clearly but quietly, do not use the phone in public places, and allow the host to be proactive. In this way, you show your friends, host or work colleagues that you value their cultural norms and can adapt to them.
   • Loud and aggressive behavior is considered disrespectful. Be nice to any salesperson or service staff you come across.
3. 3 Lower your gaze. Direct eye contact is considered quite rough, so avert your eyes whenever possible. Of course, you do not need to gaze at your feet, but during the conversation, try to look at the mouth or chin of the interlocutor. Avoid direct eye contact as this is unacceptable and could be perceived as aggressive.
   • Practice avoiding eye contact with a mirror while talking and watching your mouth. Or practice communicating with your family members.
   • In some parts of Japan or among young people, this rule may not be strictly enforced.
4. 4 Bow at a 45-degree angle from your waist. Do not straighten for 2–5 seconds, but keep your hands at hip level. The more respect you want to show, the lower you bow down.
   • You can also bow by pressing your arms to your chest (at heart level).
5. 5 Shake hands if offered to you. Although you should never initiate a handshake, you can accept it. Touching is generally considered somewhat of a taboo in a formal setting, so only shake your hand if the other person extends it first.
6. 6 Offer your business card. In Japanese culture, the exchange of business cards is an important aspect of communication. To correctly propose your business card, hold it out with both hands to your colleague, preferably the side on which the Japanese characters are written.
   • To accept a business card, take it with both hands and bow in gratitude.
   • Business card exchanges range from the most influential person to the least reputable, so don't offer your business card before the people in higher positions do.

Method 2 of 3: An informal greeting

1. 1 Avoid direct contact. Even if you express physical sympathy with ease or enjoy touching people you know, you shouldn't assume that others feel the same way. Even in informal situations, keep a simple bow and maintain a reasonable distance.
   • This is especially important for people of the opposite sex. It is considered inappropriate and impolite for a man and a woman to touch each other in public.
   • If you have a close relationship with the person you are associating with, you may be tempted to show that you are close to them. Follow the example of others.
2. 2 Maintain only brief eye contact. In a more informal setting, you can exchange a glance with people, but not for long. Hold your gaze for a few seconds and then look away.
   • Follow the example of the person you interact with. If he doesn't initiate eye contact, do the same.
3. 3 Bow slightly or bow your head. Even in informal situations, you should bow in greeting. The depth of the bow will show the level of your respect and reverence. In an informal setting, a slight bow from the waist or a slight tilt of the head will suffice.
   • If you are dealing with a stranger, bow deeper and leave light nods for acquaintances or colleagues.
4. 4 Shake hands. In an informal setting, feel free to offer a handshake, but don't squeeze your hand too tightly or intensely. Better to relax your hands.
   • In addition, handshakes in Japan do not last as long as, for example, in Europe or the United States. Instead of holding your hand firmly for ten seconds or longer, grasp it for a maximum of five seconds and then release it.
5. 5 Smile. Vivid expressions of emotion are not common in Japanese culture, so don't be surprised if you don't see a lot of friendly smiles. However, if you know someone, feel free to smile.

Method 3 of 3: Greetings with Common Japanese Phrases

1. 1 Address the person using their full name. You should expect that in public you will have to address people by their first and last name, not just their first name. In a team, using only the first name is considered too familiar. This can cause confusion or resentment.
   • If you're not sure how to reach out to a person, ask! Asking for clarification is not as rude as using mishandling.
2. 2 Say hello just by saying “Konnichiwa”. This is a simple, understandable greeting that means hello / hello or have a nice day. It is a “for any occasion” greeting that suits both strangers and friends, and is also the most reliable way to address you.
   • When in doubt, use this phrase. It is easy to pronounce and applicable anywhere and with anyone.
3. 3 Bow down in the morning and say “Ohayo gozaimasu”. The phrase translates to “good morning”. This is a great way to formally say hello to someone in the morning. You can say it to anyone, from the person working at the hotel reception to friends and acquaintances.
4. 4 Bow with the phrase “Konbanwa” in the evening. Along with the step mentioned above, greet the person in the evening with the phrase “Konbanwa”. While it might seem overkill, the formal nature of Japanese culture encourages formal greetings at any time of the day. Don't be afraid to “overdo it” when it comes to greeting others.
5. 5 Reach out to everyone in the group. While one greeting at all is enough for people from many cultures, it is customary in Japanese culture to address each person individually. Thus, if you meet a group of three people, it is correct to bow and greet them three times, addressing each one in turn.
   • This can be awkward at first, but it will get easier with practice. If you find it difficult, train whenever possible. Eventually, it will become familiar to you.

Tips

• Read as much as possible about Japanese etiquette and customs. This will help you feel confident when traveling.
• If you don't know how to reach out to someone or do something, ask.
• Always opt for a polite formality.

Warnings

• Pay attention to your body language. Do not show the sole of your shoe, point your finger, or hold prolonged eye contact. All of these actions are considered extremely rude.
• Do not try to break custom when visiting Japan or when chatting with Japanese friends. Follow the example of others.