How Foreigners OFFEND Japanese (Unintentionally)

Mrs Eats

5 Jan 202417:23

Summary

TLDRThis video humorously highlights cultural differences between Japan and Western countries, particularly in manners and behaviors that can be perceived as rude. The narrator shares personal stories about misunderstandings, such as misinterpreting greetings, gestures, or casual habits like blowing your nose at the table or chewing gum during a class. Through these experiences, the video emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural norms to avoid offense. It also touches on movie theater etiquette and promotes Japanese snack subscription boxes. The narrator reflects on how these differences shaped their perspective during their time abroad.

Takeaways

😀 Cultural misunderstandings can lead to uncomfortable situations; for example, in Japan, pointing at someone with your chin can be seen as rude and disrespectful.
😳 Gestures can have very different meanings across cultures. In Japan, looking someone in the eye and tilting your head can imply a challenge or fight, whereas in Western cultures, it could simply be a greeting.
😅 The word 'ha' in Japan can be perceived as aggressive or challenging, often used before a fight. In contrast, it can simply mean 'huh?' or 'what?' in other cultures like America.
🤧 Blowing your nose in public, especially at the dinner table, is considered rude and gross in Japan, as opposed to being generally acceptable in many Western countries.
🍬 Chewing gum in Japan, particularly in formal settings like classrooms or business meetings, is seen as highly disrespectful and a sign of inattention.
🍿 In Japan, people are expected to be punctual when going to the movies and avoid making noise while eating snacks, unlike in Western cultures where eating loudly during a film is common.
😂 Japanese people tend to be quieter when watching movies, avoiding loud laughter, while in other cultures like America, people might openly laugh, clap, or even talk back to the screen.
😲 Expressing emotions loudly during a movie can be seen as disruptive in Japan, but in countries like New Zealand or the U.S., it’s part of the shared movie-watching experience.
🎓 Different cultures have varying classroom norms. In Japan, chewing gum or behaving casually in class is a sign of disrespect, while in other countries, it's seen as normal behavior.
🛁 Accidental breaches of privacy, such as walking in on someone in a bath, are handled differently in Japan, where acknowledging the mistake politely is crucial.

Q & A

What gesture did the narrator find offensive when John greeted them?
-The narrator found it offensive when John greeted them by lifting his chin and saying 'g'day,' which was mistaken as 'go die.' In Japan, lifting the chin in such a way is seen as disrespectful, implying a challenge or looking down on someone.
Why did the narrator prepare to fight John after the misunderstanding?
-The narrator prepared to fight John because they misunderstood the gesture and greeting. In Japan, lifting the chin is a very rude gesture that can imply a challenge or a desire to fight. The narrator thought John was trying to provoke them.
How did the narrator feel after learning that John wasn’t being rude?
-The narrator felt embarrassed and relieved after learning that John's greeting 'g'day' was an Australian way of saying hello, not an offensive gesture or insult.
What does the word 'ha' imply in Japanese, and why did it scare the narrator when the security guard said it?
-'Ha' in Japanese can mean 'what the hell do you want' or imply rudeness, which scared the narrator when the security guard used it. However, in English, it was simply an informal way of saying 'come again' or 'pardon,' causing a misunderstanding.
Why did the narrator and other Japanese students find it shocking when the American girl blew her nose at the dinner table?
-In Japan, blowing your nose in public, especially at the dinner table, is considered very rude and unhygienic. The narrator and other Japanese students were shocked because they viewed it as a gross and inappropriate action.
Why is chewing gum considered disrespectful in Japan, especially in classrooms or business settings?
-Chewing gum in Japan, particularly in classrooms or business settings, is seen as disrespectful because it gives the impression that the person is not paying attention or taking the situation seriously.
How did the narrator feel when they saw students chewing gum in their Japanese class?
-The narrator felt disrespected and uncomfortable because chewing gum is considered rude in Japanese culture, especially in an educational setting, and they assumed the students weren’t serious about learning.
Why did the narrator feel uncomfortable when people were loud and ate snacks during the movie in another country?
-The narrator felt uncomfortable because in Japan, people eat very quietly in theaters, and it's common for them to try to finish their snacks before the movie starts to avoid disturbing others. The loud eating and laughter were unexpected and distracting to the narrator.
How do Japanese moviegoers generally behave in theaters compared to those in other countries?
-Japanese moviegoers are generally very quiet in theaters. They often try to eat snacks discreetly, such as during loud scenes, and avoid making noise. In contrast, moviegoers in some other countries laugh loudly, eat snacks openly, and are more expressive during the film.
Why did the narrator start to appreciate the expressiveness of moviegoers abroad after experiencing it?
-After spending time abroad, the narrator came to appreciate the shared experience of moviegoers who laughed and expressed emotions together, creating a more communal and connected feeling, which they began to miss when they returned to Japan.

Outlines

00:00

🤯 Miscommunication Leads to a Near Fight in New Zealand

In this paragraph, the speaker recounts a cultural misunderstanding that nearly led to a physical altercation while studying abroad in New Zealand. The speaker recalls an encounter with a fellow student named John, whose greeting gesture—saying 'good day' with a casual nod—was misinterpreted as an offensive, fight-provoking gesture in Japanese culture. The speaker was bewildered and prepared for a confrontation until a roommate clarified the cultural difference, resolving the misunderstanding.

05:03

🤢 Blowing Your Nose at the Dinner Table: A Japanese Perspective

This paragraph describes an uncomfortable experience the speaker had during a formal dinner while studying abroad. The speaker and fellow Japanese students were horrified when a popular American girl blew her nose at the dinner table, an act seen as highly improper and unhygienic in Japanese culture. The speaker elaborates on how many Japanese people find blowing their nose in public, especially while eating, to be gross, and they even avoid doing it on public transport. The cultural contrast around hygiene and etiquette highlights differing social norms between Japan and the West.

10:05

😬 The Shock of Seeing Students Chewing Gum in Class

The speaker shares an experience teaching Japanese to high school students abroad, which left them shocked when one of the students started chewing gum in class. In Japan, chewing gum in formal settings like classrooms or business meetings is considered disrespectful, as it conveys a lack of seriousness. The speaker felt disrespected until a supervisor explained that chewing gum is common and not seen as rude in other countries. This interaction underscores the cultural differences in perceptions of respect and formality.

15:06

🍿 Experiencing a Noisy Movie Theater Abroad

This paragraph captures the speaker's surprising experience watching a movie abroad for the first time. Used to the quiet and respectful atmosphere of Japanese cinemas, the speaker was taken aback by the noisy behavior of fellow moviegoers, including late arrivals, loud popcorn munching, and boisterous laughter. In Japan, moviegoers are expected to be quiet and avoid disturbing others. However, the speaker eventually adjusted to this different movie-watching culture, even coming to appreciate the shared emotional experience of Western movie theaters upon returning to Japan.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cultural Differences

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural differences when interacting with people from other countries, particularly Japan. Misunderstandings can arise from differing behaviors, as illustrated by incidents such as the protagonist misinterpreting 'good day' as 'go die' or feeling offended by gestures that have negative connotations in Japan but are harmless elsewhere.

💡Offensive Gestures

Gestures that are common in one culture may be offensive in another. In Japan, for example, pointing at someone with the chin or making certain hand signals can be seen as disrespectful. The video highlights how these cultural norms can lead to misunderstandings, as shown when the protagonist mistook an innocent greeting from an Australian for an offensive gesture.

💡Miscommunication

Miscommunication due to language barriers and cultural differences is a recurring theme. For instance, the protagonist misunderstood the word 'good day' as 'go die' because of their limited English skills, leading to confusion and anxiety. The video uses this to illustrate how simple greetings can be misinterpreted without an understanding of language nuances.

💡Public Behavior

Japanese customs regarding public behavior differ significantly from those in other countries. For example, blowing one’s nose in public is seen as rude in Japan, while it is more acceptable in many Western cultures. This is highlighted when the protagonist is shocked by someone blowing their nose at a restaurant table.

💡Respect

Respect plays a crucial role in Japanese culture, particularly in how one interacts with others. The protagonist mentions feeling disrespected by a student chewing gum in class, as this is considered impolite and unprofessional in Japan. Respect for others’ space, time, and the environment is a common theme throughout the video.

💡Social Etiquette

The video discusses various aspects of Japanese social etiquette, such as avoiding offensive gestures, being punctual, and refraining from making loud noises in public spaces. These behaviors are contrasted with those in other countries, where similar actions may be seen as normal or even expected.

💡Japanese Manners

Japanese manners include specific behaviors like being quiet in public and avoiding actions like chewing gum in professional or educational settings. The protagonist is surprised by how students in other countries chew gum during class, something that would be considered highly disrespectful in Japan.

💡Blowing Nose in Public

In Japan, blowing your nose in public or during meals is considered very rude and unhygienic. The video provides an example where a Japanese student is shocked by an American girl blowing her nose at a restaurant table, which would be considered normal in her culture but is highly inappropriate in Japan.

💡Punctuality

Punctuality is highly valued in Japan, as demonstrated by the protagonist’s shock when people arrive late to a movie in another country. Japanese people are expected to be on time, especially for events like movies, where they often arrive early and settle in quietly.

💡Laughing in Public

The video describes how Japanese people are generally more reserved in public, especially when it comes to showing emotion. The protagonist is surprised by how loudly people laugh and react during movies in other countries, as such behavior would be considered disruptive in Japan, where people try to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Highlights

It’s important to know cultural differences, especially when visiting Japan, as misunderstandings could lead to conflicts.

In Japan, walking in on someone bathing requires acknowledging the situation differently than in other countries.

The gesture of looking someone in the eye and lifting your chin is considered highly offensive in Japan, symbolizing disrespect or a challenge.

A cultural misunderstanding led a Japanese person to believe an Australian greeting, 'Good day,' sounded like 'Go die,' which caused initial confusion and anger.

Using the expression 'Ha' in Japan can be seen as confrontational, depending on the context, while in some countries it simply means 'Come again' or 'What?'

Blowing your nose at the dining table is viewed as extremely rude in Japan, as it’s considered unhygienic and disruptive.

Chewing gum in a professional or educational setting is seen as disrespectful in Japan because it implies a lack of seriousness.

Being late to a movie or event is considered impolite in Japan, where punctuality is highly valued.

In Japan, people are very mindful of the noise they make while eating in the cinema, often timing their bites with loud scenes to avoid disrupting others.

Laughing loudly or expressing emotions vocally in a movie theater is uncommon in Japan, where audiences remain quiet and focused on the film.

The concept of public decorum in Japan extends to personal habits like eating and emotional expressions, reflecting a collective sense of mindfulness.

Japanese social rules around politeness and etiquette are starkly different from those in many Western cultures, often causing confusion for foreigners.

Even casual gestures that are normal in some countries, such as pointing with the chin, are seen as highly disrespectful in Japan.

Cultural awareness is crucial for foreigners visiting Japan to avoid unintentional offenses, particularly regarding gestures, expressions, and social behavior.

The experience of adjusting to different social norms abroad can lead to reverse culture shock when returning to Japan, as the quiet and restrained environment feels unfamiliar after time abroad.