Etiquette Guide to Japan Quotes

“Refusing to drink or drinking only moderately must be done with diplomacy, because the Japanese believe that the only way you can really get to know people is to see how they behave when they are drunk.”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the rules that make the difference!

“Following the lead of the Japanese themselves, foreign visitors to Japan expecting to meet people outside of the travel industry should take along small courtesy gifts to hand out to anyone who befriends them. If you are going to meet people with whom you hope to develop long-term relationships, gifts more appropriate for the situation and rank of the individuals involved may be advisable.”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the rules that make the difference!

“Chopstick taboos include sticking them into your rice and leaving them standing up, and using your own chop-sticks to serve yourself from a common dish. If serving chopsticks or other utensils are not available, reverse your chopsticks and use the top ends when serving yourself or someone else. When not in use, chopsticks are customarily placed on small ceramic or bamboo rests. If rests are not provided, lean your chopsticks on the side of a dish or saucer. When you have finished eating, lay the chopsticks across the top of your main dish, plate, or bowl, or across your rice bowl. In formal situations it is proper to lay your chopsticks down when you are being served.”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the rules that make the difference!

“When foreign visitors, unaware of this code, compliment individual Japanese, it may embarrass those receiving the praise and sometimes result in their colleagues becoming envious to the point of never again accepting them as full, trusted members of the group.”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the rules that make the difference!

“late as the 1950s, a foreigner who was able to speak very good Japanese would frequently encounter people who were so conditioned to believe that foreigners could not speak their language that they actually did not understand when addressed in Japanese. One typically had to say in Japanese something like “Hey! I just spoke to you in Japanese!” to break through this mental barrier.”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the rules that make the difference!

“Yolshimhi hapsida ! (Yohl-sheem-hee hahp-shedah!), or “Let’s do our best!” In”
― Boyé Lafayette de Mente, Etiquette Guide to Korea: Know the Rules that Make the Difference!