When in Japan and greeting another person, is it polite to bow or offer your hand for a handshake?
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Hi Sandra. It is polite to bow not extend a hand for a handshake.
You make the Japanese proud, Ms Avis!
Sandra
A handshake is appropriate upon meeting. The Japanese handshake is limp and with little or no eye contact.
Some Japanese bow and shake hands. The bow is a highly regarded greeting to show respect and is appreciated by the Japanese. A slight bow to show courtesy is acceptable.
A bow is the appropriate greeting by visitors to Japan, but when Japanese are visiting the U.S., then a handshake is appropriate.
Thanks Steven.
I actually looked into this a bit a while back. They prefer not to shake hands, but will do so in deference to Western sensibilities. The Japanese people are nothing if not polite. They will appreciate it if you respect their values and bow in greeting. If you know the status of the person you are meeting and you are equal, bow as low as they do. If you are lower in status, bow lower. It might be wise never to assume that you are higher in status. :)
Very good, Dianne. The type of bow is very important also, as a slight nod of the head can be constured as disrespectful.
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Yes, it is a custom. I have heard that some companies will provide lesons on how to bow well!
It read that it has an order of importance. For example the CEO will only need to nod his head to a cleaner whereas the cleaner would have to do a very low bow.
Yet, often non-japanese people are not expected to bow and a hand shake is ofen enough.
This is true, too. Thanks Conner.
Thanks for the education on Japanese culture, Connor!
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