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Etiquette in Japan form common societal expectations of social behavior practiced throughout the nation of Japan and is highly esteemed. Like many social cultures, etiquette varies greatly depending on one's status relative to the person in question.

Customary practices can be traced to all aspects of everyday life in Japan, particularly in homes, schools, and the workplace. Although certain regions may have distinct customs, many of the customs practiced daily are also retained nationally and can be seen in bathing, eating, and language use. Moreover, some customs have changed over the course of Japanese history.

It should also be noted that many customs are broad generalizations that continue to change throughout history and may inaccurately represent an entire nation, as regional or local differences exist.

Home Visitations

It is generally considered an honor to be invited to someone's home in Japan. Many Japanese regard their homes as being too humble to entertain guests.

Upon arriving, shoes are generally not worn inside – It is customary to many Japanese families to have shoes removed prior to entering the home to prevent outside debris from entering the home. Moreover, removing shoes ensures cleanliness within the home. It is a common practice for visitors to leave their shoes in the genkan pointed away from the entryway. When entering the home, it is likely that slippers known as  uwabaki may be worn inside in replacement to shoes, though often times it is more common to only wear socks. Additionally, wearing shoes on tatami in a traditional home is considered impolite. Separate shoes specified for the bathroom are also worn when entering the host or hostess’ bathroom, in parallel to the reasoning behind not wearing outside shoes inside of the house. This may vary depending on the host or hostess. Moreover, this assumes a traditional Japanese home. In conjunction with the host, it is considered impolite not to interact face to face with the host, such as turning ones back, especially when taking of one’s shoes.

A common practice that visitors will often give in return to the host or hostess' welcome is a small gift as a sign of politeness. Foreign visitors may bring a unique gift that represents their culture. Tour guidebooks often contain instructions for foreign visitors who wish to adhere to cultural guidelines by humbly offering gifts to show respect. For more on gift giving, see Gifts and gift-giving below.

Unlike western cultures, where household members use chairs to gather around a central table, traditional Japanese homes are constructed for members of the family to sit at a table floor level on zabuton cushions in the seiza position instead of chairs. It is common for visitations to involve the host or hostess' designating a specific position around the table relative to the visitor's social status. Additionally, it is regarded disrespectful for one to simply make his or herself comfortable sitting upon arrival without the host or hostess offering first. Regarding more on seating arrangements, see kamiza.

Public Image

In Japan, social norms regarding public gatherings often involve queuing upon waiting for something. This aspect, unlike trying to compete forcefully for something, signifies more unified respect, which is a culprit part to the social values within Japan. As such, it is common to spot large crowds of people forming massive lines during day to day life throughout Japan. One particular example of this idea is illustrated in the Tōhoku earthquake and natural disasters that followed. The decimated populations of individuals reacted by striving to provide common good for each other by waiting in lines at locations to receive necessities and resources rather than aggressively competing. . It should be noted, however, that this does not imply that queuing is a systematic rule. Moreover, this practice is common globally as well.

Regarding eating, see Eating and Drinking.

In Japan, it is often considered impolite to blow one's nose in public, unless done so in a discrete manner in a private location, such as a restroom. In conjunction, wearing a mask to prevent illness from spreading has been a long practiced tradition as a sign of genuine respect. This tradition originates from ancient religious practices as a way to prevent an individual from contaminating a sacred religious site. In recent times, this tradition has also sparked global attention in response to the era regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Making payment

Many western cultures, especially vivid in the United States, assume customers provide tips whenever service is provided, such as at restaurants or taxi service. In Japan, however, tipping is often disregarded altogether.

Eating and Drinking

1 Citation added to paragraph 1

Citation added to paragraph 3

Generalization rewritten in paragraph 3: It is common for Japanese restaurants to provide hashi or, more universally, chopsticks to customers.

Insert: In Japan, it is generally appropriate for the server to prepare beverages to guests first prior to being served. Furthermore, it is often less common for the server to serve his or her own drink but, instead, to be served by one of his or her guests.

Gift and Gift Giving

Gift giving plays a crucial role in defining relationships among people within a society. Statistics indicate that much of the consumer culture revolves around buying gifts. In Japan it is common that people discern discussing various topics with others that could potentially lead to the expectation that gifts must be exchanged due to uncertainties and social burden placed on the individual. Gifts are commonly exchanged upon people who have a close relationship with one another at any occasion where gratuity is expected, particularly at weddings.

A. Seasonal Gifts

Add Citation Gift-giving in Japan : cash, connections, cosmologies by Katherine Rupp

B. Omiyage

Foreigners or visitors often exchange gifts known as omiyage when visiting a Japanese friend or acquaintance. Omiyage are small gifts that represent the visitor's regional culture. Moreover, many Japanese individuals who travel domestically may bring back small gifts to people they hold a close relationship with. Often this may create some social burden when traveling abroad, causing many individuals to not discuss their travel plans.

For more on gift giving, see Guest Visitations