Prolonged eye contact (staring) is considered rude. Don't show affection, such as hugging or shoulder slapping, in public. Never beckon with your forefinger. The Japanese extend their right arm out in front, bending the wrist down, waving fingers.
And why you shouldn't say no in Japanese
Just like in English (but even more so!), sometimes a flat out rejection can come across as harsh in Japanese. In Japanese culture, it's unusual to say a direct “no” to a request or offer, because it's impolite. And iie, in particular, can come across as rude.
Shorts, jeans, and camisoles are perfectly fine to wear as long as you don't plan on attending religious sites. While denim isn't a popular fashion choice for those beyond their teen years, black jeans are more acceptable due to their versatile nature.
Japanese are known to be shy, so once they become a couple, they flirt discreetly when in public. For example, you can see many couples walking hand-in-hand but not kissing much. Most Japanese feel embarrassed even just exchanging a small kiss on the cheek in public.
In Japan, you're not likely to see too much public smooching going on. As well as being reserved and modest by nature, most Japanese people also believe that drawing attention to oneself in public is bad manners.
Never hugging or kissing
In Japan, touching another person's body is considered rude, even with friends or family. Hugging and kissing are mostly for couples.
Walking around Tokyo, you will see a lot of interesting fashion, but you won't see any type of fashion that exposes a lot of cleavage. Growing up in Japan, I was never taught that cleavage was bad, but it was also rarely seen.
Even though many Japanese girls wear mini skirts, it's actually illegal to expose your thighs or buttocks in public according to the Light Crimes Act passed in 1948.
As for crop tops, you'll have to use your own judgment. Women are supposed to be conservative with cleavage in Japan, in that showing even a hint is often not regarded as appropriate. If you have a low-cut crop top or one that could reveal your bra from underneath, it's best to leave it at home.
Yes, they do! Arigatou on its own is a simple, somewhat casual “thank you.” That said, most people prefer doumo arigatou or arigatou gozaimasu as their standard way of saying thanks, because both of those phrases are more polite than arigatou on its own.
The most standard meaning for ちょっと is "a little." Since English likes to use more than one word for different types of "little," it's translated into variations like: a bit. a little bit.
Your right to remain silent is guaranteed by the Constitution of Japan, however, in reality, it may reinforce the suspicion in the mind of the investigator and can be used as a reason for prolonging the detention.
Accepting something or agreeing
If you want to say “OK” you can give a person a thumbs-up or put your hands up above your hand, bend them in the elbows a bit to form a big “O” (called maru in Japanese). Remember, however, that thumb-down is an offensive sign in Japan.
In fact, in Japanese culture, people are taught not to maintain eye contact with others because too much eye contact is often considered disrespectful. For example, Japanese children are taught to look at others' necks because this way, the others' eyes still fall into their peripheral vision [28].
Pointing at people or things is considered rude in Japan. Instead of using a finger to point at something, the Japanese use a hand to gently wave at what they would like to indicate. When referring to themselves, people will use their forefinger to touch their nose instead of pointing at themselves.
Rules are very important in Japan, and as there is a no tattoo rule in nearly all pools, onsens and gyms, a foreigner walking up to the desk with tattoos showing is bound to cause concern. Just cover up and keep those tattoos covered and that is acceptable. If you can't cover up, don't go to those environments.
In short: Yes. While red does have a deeper meaning in Japanese history and culture, there's actually no specific stigma around wearing the color in Japan; in fact, it is considered one of the luckiest and happiest colors you can wear and is popular in modern Japanese fashion.
At the end of the 2019 school year, it began allowing girls to wear pants. At the end of 2021, girls were given the option of wearing neckties, no longer limited to bow ties.
Japan's gender pay gap is also the widest in the G-7: Women in full-time work earned on average 22.4% less than their male counterparts in 2021, according to government data. And women's overall share of wealth in Japan is low, too.
With women, wearing short shorts or skirts and I mean the shortest of shorts is completely fine but wearing anything with spaghetti straps or a revealing chest area is considered especially inappropriate. Tank tops are seen as underwear here so be sure to cover up if you want to blend in.
Hottest days, temperature & humidity. In Japan, the days on which the temperature climbs above 30°C/86°F are called manatsubi (“midsummer days”), and days with temperatures over 35°C/95°F are called mōshobi (“sweltering days”).
This sounds a bit creepy but it's not so much telling someone you love them but rather the Japanese way of letting them know you like them and asking them out. One thing that is very different in Japan is that it is not uncommon for a woman to ask a man out.
Japanese first dates are neutral — there are no public displays of affection and no overt physical or verbal displays of desire.