There are also a few specific types of bows that are directly connected to the degree of the bow such as eshaku (会釈), keirei (敬礼), and saikeirei (最敬礼). A simple bow of about 5 degrees is commonly used in informal gatherings such as amongst friends and family. For example, the degree of the angle in which a person bows is connected with the depth of respect the person is showing. There are different types of bows meant to show respect in various forms. There is a lot that goes into bowing, but understanding the subtleties will help to show a great amount of respect. Men should bow with their hands and arms at their sides, while women bow with their hands and arms in the front.
Your gaze should be focused downwards when you bow, having your head move downward with your torso. When bowing, it is important not to slouch over and curve your back nice, straight posture shows that you are putting on your best for the other person.īowing should also come from the upper torso, meaning that your lower body should not move and should remain perpendicular to the ground, as if you were standing straight up. The Japanese bow is simple, but there are a lot of subtleties that go into bowing.
In Japan, learning how to bow is one of the best ways to show that you appreciate the culture. Simple gestures like bowing go a long way in terms of communication in Japan, and sometimes are even more powerful than words. Bowing demonstrates to the other person that you are placing them over yourself and that you are thankful for your interaction with them. The concept of bowing is simple and basically shows that whatever your social status is, you are lowering yourself and putting yourself in a position that is vulnerable.
Interaction in Japan is about much more than just verbal communication, and people will quickly notice another person’s expression in the form of body language as well. There are many reasons that Japanese people bow, but it is predominantly used in order to communicate respect. Foreigners living in Japan will constantly encounter situations where people will bow, so it is important to understand why Japanese people do so and what it means.Ĭulturally, there are many different ways to bow knowing the different types of bows and how they are used traditionally will help you to understand the culture in a deeper way than most.
The Japanese word for “bow” is ojigi (お辞儀). Japanese culture places heavy emphasis on respect, and bowing is one of the primary ways that people in Japan show respect to other people. The Japanese bow is an important feature of the culture, and there is a lot of meaning in its usage.
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