Page 367 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  365

legs. Men may sit cross-legged,
while women should tuck their
feet to one side.
The Japanese practice good
posture from childhood: a
straight back is respected.

Attitudes to Physical
Contact and Sex
Members of the same sex are
physically at ease with each
other. The atmosphere in single- Paying respects at a family tomb in a Tokyo cemetery
sex public baths is relaxed.
Between the sexes, however Buddhist nations. Japan is a society even today. The
(outside immediate family, who superstitious society rather emphasis on seniority has its
often bathe together), a public than a religious one, with its roots in Confucianism (a set of
display of contact is not as religion mixing together and social rules imported from China
common as in the West. priests leading down-to- that places great empha sis on
Kissing is viewed as purely earth lives. loyalty and filial piety).
sexual. A “hello” kiss on the If you enter buildings in All older people are treated
cheek might cause a shrine or temple, except with respect: not only parents,
embarrassment, and those with stone floors, grandparents, company bosses,
hugging is not so common. leave your shoes at the and teachers but even those a
Skimpy clothing, is worn entrance or carry them year or two senior in school or
by most girls and will with you. Plastic bags are employment. The term sensei
not cause offense, but often provided for this, (“teacher”) is used as a term of
a shapely or hirsute especially if there are respect for elders, experts, and
Westerner in revealing several exits. Some those with high professional
clothes might invite Fertility statue temples allow status, such as doctors. Social
stares and giggles. at Uwajima’s Taga photography, some attitudes are reflected in the
In general, sex is Shrine museum only without flash, Japanese language, which has a
seen as free from others not at special form of honorific speech.
shame, though something to all. For advice about paying Many Japanese regard the
be indulged discreetly. Shinto respects in Shinto and imperial family as the ultimate
emphasizes fertility, and some Buddhism, see pp30–33. parent in such a social system.
objects in shrines can be quite Until the end of World War II,
explicit (see p31). Lining Up and emperors were worshiped as
Homosexual activity, though having descended from the
widely practiced by samurai in Jaywalking deities that created the country.
the feudal era, is less openly Social behavior in Japan is full of Today, some liberals reject the
accepted today than in many contradictions. When waiting imperial system and the
Western nations (see p362). for a train, people line up neatly national anthem as symbols
Sadly, the sleazier side of sex but may resort to pushing and of the country, though right-
trade includes school girl prosti- shoving in order to get on. To get wing groups fiercely protect
tution. Cartoon pornography is off a crowded train, simply push the imperial family and may
widely sold in convenience your way through. If you are exercise extreme violence
stores. Nonethe less, everyday stuck and can not reach the against those who speak out
life is relatively sanitized, and it door in time, call out “orimasu” against it. Most people show a
is important to remember that (“I’m getting off”) as you try to lot of respect for the emperor,
geisha (see p167) and the push your way toward the exit. but stop short of veneration.
majority of bar hostesses are Pedestrians should be careful
not prostitutes. about jaywalking. It is not so
common among Japanese.
If you do it, others may
Etiquette at Temples assume you are crossing
and Shrines correctly and follow you
The atmosphere in Buddhist unthinkingly, or you may be
temples and Shinto shrines is reprimanded by the police.
casual, and there are no general
restrictions on cloth ing. Visitors
should show respect, and not The Hierarchy
be noisy, but there are few of Respect for seniors is Commuters line up for a train at
the taboos found in some other fundamental to Japanese the station

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