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I don't think she would be insulted much at all unless the people she was hanging with found some other beef about her. As someone once mentioned (and I'd hate to confirm it, but...) if someone doesn't like you in Japan, it's likely that they will not be assertive and say it in your face, but behind your back. It's just a way of social conduct that is less direct. When people might refer to her as "big" (especially if there are two foreigners that have the same name, but have visible differences), then as a language, you would be described when being talked about to separate you from the other person with the same name. I've seen it done anyway. But, other than that, I don't think someone would be insulted like that like they would in a more direct, in your face culture like America.

Most countries I think probably think the average American is fat or heavy-set. I was sure an exception, but it is basically whatever our culture (aka music, dramas, sitcoms, movies) portrays us as will get the most attention from other people in other countries. Much in a way some people here think that Japan is exactly like what it is in Anime and school girls and catgirls run amok in the streets, which is so not true at all. It's what our products of our countries determines what others outside our own culture think of us.

arrow Take something from home that isn't easily found in Japan

arrow Take lots of things to give over the course of your stay

arrow Wrap it good(if available ask someone in store to wrap it for you). If you wrap it yourself, use pastel colors and no bow. Subtlety is key in many activities in Japan, including gift giving

arrow If you wrap it fancy, keep it in a shopping bag until you give it(to not embarrass yourself or them before the gift is even given)

arrow Give it at the end of your time there. End. This is important if you don't want to be involved in the back and forth of being shamed by not giving anything part of gift giving in Japan.

arrow If it's for one person, keep it private. If it's for a group, have the group around when the time comes. If you do get involved, do try to reciprocate

arrow Use both hands to present it

arrow Talk down the gift. In that you show your relationship holds more priority than the gift you're giving them

arrow Don't give older and younger people the same thing

arrow Do not, I repeat, DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING IN MULTIPLES OF 4S OR 9S. Those numbers have very negative associations in Japan, like the number 13 has here(especially 4, which can be a homonym of the word for death)

Treat them as you would children of your own country: with politeness and kindness.


If you're talking about the order of rank, it's father, then mother.



Again, bring things that can't be found easily in Japan or would be expensive to get in their country(like Abercrombie and Fitch. Seriously, it's hideously expensive to get over there)

Hmm, save bigger, more lavish gifts for the last legs of your stay. And it depends on the food. If it's some common chocolate then maybe not, but if's a kind of food that is typically only found or is a strong suit of your country I would think they'd be appreciative, especially since one part of the Japanese culture is the INTENSE love and appreciation they have for food, from where and how it's caught to how it's cooked and presented.

If you're looking for nonperishables, clothes are the way to go

gonk omg this forum was so helpful! so im secretly bumping this in hopes that it wont die.

im supposed to be going there to study abroad so is there anything i should know about how to talk to teachers and fellow students before i go?

If you feel the need to bow at any time to a person in a shop or whatever, don't go to low. Since they are serving you, they need to go lower than you did.

Eat all your food.

Do not say "bless you" or anything of the sort when someone sneezes, it's rude. I wasn't aware of that, my friend told me it was rude to point out someone had sneezed, sorry sweatdrop

There were many comments posted that needed to be corrected.
I am half Japanese, and I lived in Japan for 8 years, so I know a lot about the culture.




Being Japanese, I find the first part wrong.
You would never say those things in a restaurant lol...shows you're a foreigner. You will only use them at your house, someone elses house, or if you're friendly with someone working in the restaurant.
In restaurants, you may sometimes say 'Itadakimasu' , but Japanese people usually never say 'gochisousama deshita'

** Don't say 'gochisousama deshita' shorten it to 'gochisousama' because most people in Japan will use 'gochisousama' **


It's almost like saying grace at a restaurant over here....normally you won't .... unless your family is very religious...and even then you won't....


And the second part about the train.... use common sense.
Would you ever turn your back to someone sitting on a train anywhere???
NO, only people who haven't been on a train would do such a thing...and even then it's not normal...




This comment really hurts....
Japanese are not racist... some old people just tend to avoid foreigners.
The younger generation will usually love to hang out and talk with you.
And it also shows you never went to Japan because you don't tip....

**Don't say stuff if you have no clue...**



Ok, all of these are wrong....

Do not make a slurping sound when drinking rofl....
Only do this when eating noodles and drinking miso soup...

Only fill your dining companion's drink when it is alcohol.
Every other drink doesn't really matter.
And usually this concept is used for business purposes and for older people.
Young people usually won't do it, so don't do it when you're around young people.

The last comment about leaving the glass full is rubbish. It doesn't matter if you drink it all or leave. If you don't want anymore, and the waiter/waitress tries to pour, just tell them not to pour anymore.



Never call your superios by kun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG MISTAKE
kun is for a little boy, or some one who works below you, or a woman that is younger than you.....

Also, don't use sama.... it makes the person feel like royalty.
Should only be used when you are working for a store and you are calling out someone's name on the intercom(microphone) ...
(this one is complicated)

Always use -san when you're in doubt.

Rice should never be mixed with:
soy sauce
sweets
soup
sauces

Rice can be mixed with/when:
when it's a donburi (rice with different toppings on it, but never actually mix the whole thing into a mess)
natou
daikon oroshi
furikake
(there are more out there, but these are the basics)

**Most of the time don't try to mix or put stuff on rice.**



The gesture of actually sticking the chopsticks into rice at an eating place is rude. It's not the eating of the rice that's rude.
You wouldn't try to start praying for the dead at the table...

The ok sign thing is not true. You can use it in Japan. Many Japanese people use it.

But if you don't believe me, just don't use it at all.

The cupping of the hand is actually right and wrong. There are more body gestures involved to actually have those meanings. These are very hard to explain.

Asking one person if another person is homosexual:
using the dominant hand, put hand next to the opposite cheek and then arc your hand. Kind of like a C, kind of like bending your fingers toward your arm (this is basically the opposite of a fist).

Also, there needs to be something said during this action. You have to tell whomever you're talking to "kore?" And when saying this, point out the person you're talking about with your eyes.

Saying sorry:
This version of saying sorry is not used very often.

Make your dominant hand flat/straight (no curves).
Put it about 6. in. away from your mouth and line it up vertically with the middle of the mouth.
Then you also need to bow (not a full one, a quarter one)up and then come straight back up quickly.
Do this several times.
You can say sorry at the same time if the person is close, but if the person is far or if you're in a crowded place, no words need to be said.




Ok, you can use the shower, or you can also use the bath water. There are usually bowl looking things next to the bath. This is to scoop up water from the bath. But don't do this technique at an onsen or sentou.


I'm not trying to destroy you, Yes, Japanese culture may be hard. I'm only trying to correct things so people won't feel like a total idiot foreigner...rofl

I can speak Japanese with anyone if they like. I am also looking for students if you're interested.

wait!!! i don't get the homosexual thing. explain that one more time.

i n=know alittle japanese but im looking for someone to help me with it