Gestures in Japan
When you travel to foreign countries, knowing the common language "English" is a plus to communicate with locals even though in some countries, not everyone can speak English.
However, even if you speak English very fluently, there is one thing you will be better off researching and understanding before you will be leaving for the trip. It is gestures used in the countries you will be traveling to.
Gestures are non verbal communication and, sometimes, one gesture you did with no intention to offend locals could offend the locals.
In your daily life, you will be accustomed to all kinds of gestures used in the states,but in some countries, one gesture you would used for one thing here in the states could mean something else in outside the states.
Gestures used in the states and gestures used in Japanese have some that means complete different things.
<"Money" gesture>
In the states, a circle made with forefinger and thumb touching means "Ok,good job!".
In Japan, same gesture means "money".
<"zero" gesture>
In Japan, a circle made with forefinger and thumb touching with rest of the fingers lined at same level of position to forefinger means "zero".
<"Come here" gesture>
In the states, when you want to call somebody in, you will be moving hand back to front. This same gesture means "Go away" in Japan.
In Japan, to beckon somebody, hand is extended with palm side down and move your hand front to back at the wrist.It is kind of like a scratch motion.
This gesture is known as beckoning gesture in Japan, it is considered rude to beckon your boss/superior with this gesture.
If you visit Japanese business such as restaurants, at the cashier counter, you would see a white cat ornament with red ears that can move one of his/her front paw front to back or the one posture is set to one raised front paw with palm side facing toward you.
The Maneki neko usually made with ceramic.
This cat ornament is called "Maneki Neko". "Maneki" means to invite in Japanese, and "Neko" means cat.
The Maneki neko is a lucky charm for good luck and for good business. Some people say that if the cat had left paw raised, it is for inviting customers,and with right paw raised for fortune/money/good business, but I am not certain whether side of raised paw really means something.
Bellow is a youtube video I came across on Maneki neko.
Maneki neko in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
** History behind the beckoning cat "maneki neko**
According to wikipedia website, Maneki neko first appeared during the later Edo period (16003 ~ 1867) and earliest written evidence comes from 1870s (Meiji era) in the newspaper.
In 1876, there is an evidence that Kimono clad Maneki neko were distributed at a shrine in Osaka prefecture ; western part in the main Japanese island.
You can read more history on Maneki neko at wikipedia website here.
** Legend of Maneki neko **
According to article written by Franny Syufy, some of the legend go..
Legend #1
One day, wealthy feudal lord "Naotaka Ii" was standing under the tree in front of the temple, seeking the protection from the rain. Then,he saw a temple cat beckoning him. As soon as he left the shelter from the tree, the tree was struck by the lightening.
He was grateful to "Tama" the beckoning cat,and helped priest by temple prosper.
After Tama's death, the first Maneki neko was made in his honor.
Legend #2
In the Edo period, there was a famous Geisha woman who loved cat and kept the cat at her side all the time.
One day, the cat started tugging her Kimono persistently,and she called for help. As a result, an admirer who came to help cut the cat's head off because he thought that cat was bewitched.
The head of the cat flew to the ceiling and bit the snake that was ready to strike at any moment.
The Geisha woman was sadden to know that this cat sacrificed his life for her.
Later, one of her guests brought cat made with wood,with the raised paw to alert her to danger. This image of the cat with raised paw became popular since.
There are many more legend but above two are some of the popular legend of beckoning cat "maneki neko"
You can read full article written by Franny Syufy on Maneki neko legend here.
<sitting posture/gesture>
When you are watching talk show on TV where host is interviewing somebody in a chair, you would often see the person who is interviewed are sitting in the chair with leg crossed.
In Japan, crossing legs when interview exams/job interviews are considered not good manner.
<"I" gesture>
In Japan,pointing to the nose with the forefinger means "me".
<"peace sign" gesture>
In the states, when you take a picture of somebody, you will say "Say cheese" and take the smiley faces pictures.
In Japan, we say "peace" and make the peace sign; raising the forefinger and middle finger and making "v" sign facing palm side outward, when picture is taken.
According to wikipedia website, this same gesture is offensive to people in the UK because it means "V for victory".
You can see list of gestures used in the world at wikipedia website here.
<Hand clapping>
In Japan, at the end of ceremony,event, meeting etc.., participants rhythmically clap their hands together.We call the special hand clapping "Tejime".
It goes, one leader would say "Ote wo haishaku".
Participants yell "yooo"
Then participants start clapping hands with the pre-determined method.
There are a few kinds of method. One is called "Iccho jime" ,which is a single clap after yelling step.
The other is called "sanbon jime",which goes..
One leader would say "Ote wo haishaku".
Participants yell "yooo"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
Participants yell "yoo!"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
Participants yell "yoo!"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
One leader would say "Arigatou gozai mashita". (means "Thank you" in Japanese.)
You can see how the sanbon jime hand clapping is done via youtube video I came across.
Sanbon jime hand clapping in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
<"I am listening to you" gesture>
Nodding with the word saying "Ha i". This "Ha i (means yes in Japanese)" does not necessary mean listeners are agreeing to what you are saying.
Non verbal communication like gestures are varied depending on each country. It is fun to learn about he gestures used in other countries and it is also helpful knowing what gestures mean what in other countries before traveling.
You can see list of gestures used in many countries at soc website here.
Have fun learning gestures
However, even if you speak English very fluently, there is one thing you will be better off researching and understanding before you will be leaving for the trip. It is gestures used in the countries you will be traveling to.
Gestures are non verbal communication and, sometimes, one gesture you did with no intention to offend locals could offend the locals.
In your daily life, you will be accustomed to all kinds of gestures used in the states,but in some countries, one gesture you would used for one thing here in the states could mean something else in outside the states.
Gestures used in the states and gestures used in Japanese have some that means complete different things.
<"Money" gesture>
In the states, a circle made with forefinger and thumb touching means "Ok,good job!".
In Japan, same gesture means "money".
<"zero" gesture>
In Japan, a circle made with forefinger and thumb touching with rest of the fingers lined at same level of position to forefinger means "zero".
<"Come here" gesture>
In the states, when you want to call somebody in, you will be moving hand back to front. This same gesture means "Go away" in Japan.
In Japan, to beckon somebody, hand is extended with palm side down and move your hand front to back at the wrist.It is kind of like a scratch motion.
This gesture is known as beckoning gesture in Japan, it is considered rude to beckon your boss/superior with this gesture.
If you visit Japanese business such as restaurants, at the cashier counter, you would see a white cat ornament with red ears that can move one of his/her front paw front to back or the one posture is set to one raised front paw with palm side facing toward you.
The Maneki neko usually made with ceramic.
This cat ornament is called "Maneki Neko". "Maneki" means to invite in Japanese, and "Neko" means cat.
The Maneki neko is a lucky charm for good luck and for good business. Some people say that if the cat had left paw raised, it is for inviting customers,and with right paw raised for fortune/money/good business, but I am not certain whether side of raised paw really means something.
Bellow is a youtube video I came across on Maneki neko.
Maneki neko in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
** History behind the beckoning cat "maneki neko**
According to wikipedia website, Maneki neko first appeared during the later Edo period (16003 ~ 1867) and earliest written evidence comes from 1870s (Meiji era) in the newspaper.
In 1876, there is an evidence that Kimono clad Maneki neko were distributed at a shrine in Osaka prefecture ; western part in the main Japanese island.
You can read more history on Maneki neko at wikipedia website here.
** Legend of Maneki neko **
According to article written by Franny Syufy, some of the legend go..
Legend #1
One day, wealthy feudal lord "Naotaka Ii" was standing under the tree in front of the temple, seeking the protection from the rain. Then,he saw a temple cat beckoning him. As soon as he left the shelter from the tree, the tree was struck by the lightening.
He was grateful to "Tama" the beckoning cat,and helped priest by temple prosper.
After Tama's death, the first Maneki neko was made in his honor.
Legend #2
In the Edo period, there was a famous Geisha woman who loved cat and kept the cat at her side all the time.
One day, the cat started tugging her Kimono persistently,and she called for help. As a result, an admirer who came to help cut the cat's head off because he thought that cat was bewitched.
The head of the cat flew to the ceiling and bit the snake that was ready to strike at any moment.
The Geisha woman was sadden to know that this cat sacrificed his life for her.
Later, one of her guests brought cat made with wood,with the raised paw to alert her to danger. This image of the cat with raised paw became popular since.
There are many more legend but above two are some of the popular legend of beckoning cat "maneki neko"
You can read full article written by Franny Syufy on Maneki neko legend here.
<sitting posture/gesture>
When you are watching talk show on TV where host is interviewing somebody in a chair, you would often see the person who is interviewed are sitting in the chair with leg crossed.
In Japan, crossing legs when interview exams/job interviews are considered not good manner.
<"I" gesture>
In Japan,pointing to the nose with the forefinger means "me".
<"peace sign" gesture>
In the states, when you take a picture of somebody, you will say "Say cheese" and take the smiley faces pictures.
In Japan, we say "peace" and make the peace sign; raising the forefinger and middle finger and making "v" sign facing palm side outward, when picture is taken.
According to wikipedia website, this same gesture is offensive to people in the UK because it means "V for victory".
You can see list of gestures used in the world at wikipedia website here.
<Hand clapping>
In Japan, at the end of ceremony,event, meeting etc.., participants rhythmically clap their hands together.We call the special hand clapping "Tejime".
It goes, one leader would say "Ote wo haishaku".
Participants yell "yooo"
Then participants start clapping hands with the pre-determined method.
There are a few kinds of method. One is called "Iccho jime" ,which is a single clap after yelling step.
The other is called "sanbon jime",which goes..
One leader would say "Ote wo haishaku".
Participants yell "yooo"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
Participants yell "yoo!"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
Participants yell "yoo!"
clap clap clap, clap clap clap,clap clap clap,clap
One leader would say "Arigatou gozai mashita". (means "Thank you" in Japanese.)
You can see how the sanbon jime hand clapping is done via youtube video I came across.
Sanbon jime hand clapping in Japan
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
<"I am listening to you" gesture>
Nodding with the word saying "Ha i". This "Ha i (means yes in Japanese)" does not necessary mean listeners are agreeing to what you are saying.
Non verbal communication like gestures are varied depending on each country. It is fun to learn about he gestures used in other countries and it is also helpful knowing what gestures mean what in other countries before traveling.
You can see list of gestures used in many countries at soc website here.
Have fun learning gestures
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