Gifts for Japanese Families?
1. Don’t blow your nose in front of people, especially at the dinner table. 2. Do not walk and drink a coke (or any drink) at the same time. 3. Do not walk and eat a sandwich or candy bar or chew gum at the same time. 4. Take off sunglasses when speaking to people, especially older people. 5. Don’t expect people to look you in the eye when you’re talking to them. 6. Try to avoid doing so yourself. 7. Avoid attempts at humor, even self-denigrating humor. Westerners often use humor to defuse tense or unfamiliar situations. But what’s funny is so culturally specific I caution against any and all attempts at humor unless you are flirting. There is so much room for misunderstanding. This is the one scenario in which you can actually anger a Japanese host or stranger. At the very least, your try at humor will result in added confusion. Just don’t do it. 8. If you get a Japanese girlfriend, don’t mimic how she speaks. You will end up speaking like a woman, and it matters if you plan to use Ja
Hi, I’m Japanese. In general, since your host families are letting you stay with them knowing that you are a young (hip, since you’re in a band) American, it stands to reason that they are going to be very receptive to you, and may even be hosting you with the hope that some of your English will rub off on them/their kids. So the best ‘gift’ you can bring is yourself. Just be friendly, respectful and polite and you’ll be fine. If you make an etiquette faux pas, you may be corrected by they won’t hold it against you by any means. Why should they – you’re not Japanese and you don’t live there. Learn a few Japanese words of greeting beforehand, and you’ll make a great impression. (I would add that some of the “rules” posted above by other peeps may apply to people on longer-term stays, but not really for short-term stays.) As for gifts: I agree generally with what mr_roboto said. Also, in Japan you give the gift at the end of the stay, not at the start. Um, not really. Giving a gift at th
