Japanese Culture

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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????????!

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I think she’s asking me if she can send me a New Year’s card or something… however, there’s a small problem in that I’ve not replied yet! Should I reply or is it too late?
I didn’t reply because I wasn’t sure what to say

She’s asking you something. So you need to reply. I think this has nothing to do with her being Japanese.

When your friend asked you something, you have to reply.

I think she asked it before 2011 because she’s asking about New Year card. Why did you not reply until now?

I would apologize to her for not replying on time, give her my address, and tell her that she can send me a card even now.

Hello I’m going to Japan this summer and I would like to know basic Japanese etiquette that I have to consider.

Do not tip at restaurant or other places.
Do not talk on cell phone on train or bus.
Let passengers exit first when you are about to get on train.

I do not have enough money to travel to japan unfortunately.

A few below…

I was wondering if it’s common for Japanese guys in their 20s to treat friends that are girls (not gf), ie. just to be gentlemanly, or is it more common that the bill is split between a girl and guy who are not a couple?

Usually, the older one pays.
However, if they’re friends, then usually someone will pay the first time, then the other person the next time and so on and so forth.
I suppose that if they want to impress the girl they might treat her, but Japan still remains a male-dominant country. They don’t really bother with the whole gentleman business – They don’t even hold the door open for their girlfriends.

I want to make a list of celebrity or just famous faux pas. It can be both historical and current. The more embarrassing or funny the better.

Example: George H Bush throwing up in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister (a bit extreme, but funny)

Thanks.

How about these:

Paul McCartney was the guest of honor at a banquet in Washington, DC. Apparently, he switched place cards with someone so that he could sit next to his girlfriend, who had not been seated at the head table with him. It’s unclear who ended up sitting at the head table in his place.

The Miami Dolphins General Manager asked a prospective wide receiver during the draft whether his mother was a prostitute. He later apologized, saying that it is his job to scrutinize potential draft picks with an emphasis on character.

Al Sharpton Twitters during Michael Jackson’s burial.

korean?

most japanese or korean look shorter than other asian,i never know who they are from? and this etiqutte is popular in daily life too or just in airport when saying goodbye to friends?
maybe it’s both japanese and korean etiquette?

i was worried they might hit a pole or a baggage cart or something since they were walking backward. i should start training myself to do this too since i’m planing to study japanese and visit japan one day.

This is very Japanese and a very polite way of saying a formal goodbye. In Japan it is rude to turn your back to someone that is why they walk backwards. Bowing is an action of respect and is usually used in more formal occasions rather than between family and close friends.

Do not tip at restaurant or other places.
Do not talk on cell phone on train or bus.
Let passengers exit first when you are about to get on train.

hi i’m in love with japan and its culture, everthing about it is so cool! ive learnt a few words and im learning about japanese etiquette and other stuff but where can i learn to properly speak japanese?

First learn to ‘properly write english’

My mother will be turning 60 this coming June. We are all excited and want to make her day special. We decided to invite her friends and relatives.

My mom is actually adopted and we have had some contact with her birth family. We recently met her biological nephew and his wife last Christmas. They are very nice and we were happy to meet and get to know them. Especially since they speak English. (My mom was adopted from Japan).

Here is the thing, when my sister mentioned to this nephew’s wife that we would be throwing our mother a birthday to celebrate her 60th this coming june through a text message, she was excited and said that was the same day of her husband’s birthday. She asked if we could combine the birthday party with her husband’s and my mom’s 60th. My sister and I don’t think it’s a big deal, but my father was completely adamant about not doing that. We weren’t think of doing something big, but we just thought maybe buying a cake for him too or something like that. I want to be nice and reach out to my mother’s biological family. My mother is easy going and didn’t mind combining the birthdays. My father though was very angry and said my mom would complain to him later about it and he wants to make this day her special day. We decided to compromise and make the birthday on the day before so it isn’t actually on this nephew’s birthday. (The day actually was better for different reasons that popped up too). I told my sister to text back the nephew’s wife and say we decided to have it on a different day so your husband can have his own special day!

I sent an evite out and immediately the nephew’s wife replied. I am not sure if my sister has texted her yet, but the nephew’s wife said expressed her wish again about "getting a bit of bday blessing" on that day too for her husband—for all the others to see on the reply board. She obviously didn’t get the hint! I am starting to think maybe my dad is right and it’s kind of rude to just ask if we could combine a birthday party with someone else! Especially since we aren’t that close.

Any advice on what to do?

tell her NO it just does not work for you to shARE A BIRTHDAY PARTY IT IS NOT IN YOUR TRADITION.

My auntie is Japanese and my family and I were invited to a Japanese restaurant with her. We all knew how polite Japanese people are, especially in public. I had read up a little bit, so I knew pretty much how to present myself in a way that would be appropriate to them.
My parents and I are very polite people, and we made a big effort to not offend anyone. But I noticed, after our meal, my auntie went to apologize to the waiters and waitresses for my parent’s behaviour. It was in English (she spoke in Japanese to the staff for the whole meal), and I was in hearing range, so maybe she meant me to hear it? My auntie’s not rude or impolite, in case you assume.
So, I was just wondering (Japanese people especially), can you tell me what me and/or my parents were doing wrong that English people may think very polite? Or anything else that may help. I don’t like offending people, especially people in different cultures, as I’m intrigued to find out more about them. That’s why I’m asking

Thanks!

PS: We don’t burp or anything, and we took off our shoes on entry and wore slippers whenever we visited the bathroom.
It was in England, though it was also a very traditional restaurant.
It was the normal – don’t speak or laugh too loud, don’t open your mouth when you eat, don’t be rude, use chopsticks properly. Basically, if you went to a very posh restaurant, how would you behave? That is pretty much how we were.
I said – she apologized in English. I can’t hear her very well and I don’t talk to her much because she didn’t learn proper English so it’s awkward. I love her though, it’s just language barrier – even if it’s the same language!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2005.html

That should help you. But I wonder, was this a Japanese restaurant in Japan? Or somewhere near where you live?

EDIT:
This restaurant is in England? I’m from the US, so maybe things aren’t exactly the same here, but they should be pretty close.

Yes, it is a Japanese restaurant. But it is in England, so I think the rules of English etiquette should apply. The restaurant owners couldn’t possibly expect people who are not Japanese to know the finer points of Japanese etiquette. I think you may have misheard her.