Weird Japanese Culture

In March, we are just waiting for warm spring and focusing on school. No event in March. However, March 14th in Japan is called White day . In the day, men give women chocolate or some girly stuff in return, because women give me handmade chocolate on Valentine's day. Most men give women marshmallow, chocolate, cookie, and other sweet snack and they are not handmade usually. Some men give women jewelry, such as earnings, necklace, and so on. The reason why white day established is Japan candy cooperative suggested an idea to make White day to sell candies more and more. In 1980, the first White day was officially launched.   So, Japanese women usually give men something, but men have to do something big on the day. We are told this company is first company making white day. ↓

It's time to change to spring season from winter! Last month, there was a big event,  "Valentine's Day" . In the United States, men give some presents, such as dolls, chocolates, flowers, and etc. to women which is so sweat. Japanese culture, however, women give chocolates to men, and the chocolates should be handmade. The women who give the chocolate to men usually express "Love"   by giving the handmade chocolate. On the other hand, women give the chocolate to male bosses, c o-workers, friends, family members, and so on as "Friend chocolate (obligation-chocolate)" .

In the United States, we have to pay chip after we finished the meal. However, in Japan, we have never paid chip for the employees because chip is included in the meal and behaving very polite to the customers is totally obvious. Interestingly, if we get chip, we will feel so sorry to the customer who give the chip, because it is Japanese character. And also, when we work, we are always told that   "Customer is always right" or "The customer is king." If you have chance to go to Japan, you can save money because you don't have to pay chip for employees which is nice. But, you must pay chip in here even if it is Japanese restaurant.

In Japan, we use a "bow" instead of shaking hands. Bow is known as very polite gesture, and also meant "respect to others." I like this culture how we show respectful. But, taking a bow is not only one time. We take bows too many times because we want to express "special respect to others" . Of course, bows are most likely used in companies such trades, sales, business, and so on. But, we use it between friends who are not same age. For example, I have to take a bow people who are older than me because older people than my age are living longer than me. In this situation, I take a bow as usual. Consequently, taking bows have never been enough.

Hello, everyone! This is Narumi Hishinuma from Kanagawa, Japan. Do you know Japanese culture well? Most of you know Japan is about  sushi, anime, traditional clothes,  and so on. However, Japan has tuns of wired things such as holidays, food, and etc... So, let me talk about wired Japanese culture that you have never heard! You would be excited how Japan is interesting and I hope you like it! Most of pictures that I posted are going to be drawn by me (^▽^)