Why do Japanese people bow so much? If you’re in trouble, is bowing the right thing to do?

Bowing, a typical gesture of Japanese people

You’ve probably seen Japanese people bowing at least once before.

When they meet someone, when they part ways, when they apologise, when they say thank you…

Japanese people bow in all kinds of situations.

At first glance, this behaviour may seem excessive, but it has a deep meaning.

So, why do Japanese people bow so much?

What does bowing mean to Japanese people?

Bowing is not just a matter of etiquette, but an important means of non-verbal communication that expresses feelings and relationships. 

Unlike handshakes or hugs, it allows you to convey respect for the other person without physical contact.

In other countries, it is common to greet each other with physical contact. However, in Japan, personal space is highly valued. Even in cultures where handshakes or hugs are used as greetings, Japanese people maintain a distance from others while expressing respect. The quintessential example of this is the bow. It is a way to convey respect without physical contact. 

Why bow? 

 In Japanese culture, which values ‘wa’ (harmony), people hold the following values:

・Consideration for hierarchical relationships

・The ability to convey meaning without saying it explicitly (a culture of inference)

・Maintaining distance from others = consideration

The bow is the very symbol of this.

It is an act of conveying gratitude, apology, and respect through ‘distance’ without physical contact.

The unique bowing culture of Japanese people

 Bowing naturally even during a phone call (though invisible, the head naturally bows)

Staff members bow deeply to an empty space after a customer exits an elevator

Deep, prolonged bows seen in televised apologies (sometimes exceeding 45 degrees)

There are strict rules regarding the angle of a bow: a slight bow (15°), a formal bow (30°), and a deep bow (45°)

A mysterious technique that maintains physical distance while closing psychological distance

The bowing culture created by the Japanese

In Japan, ‘bowing’ is the crystallisation of a culture that reads the air and conveys consideration through distance.

The quiet and beautiful act of bowing is filled with ‘unspoken kindness.’

If you ever find yourself unsure of what to do in Japan, try bowing first. It is surely the most Japanese form of communication.

The meaning of the phrase ‘reading the air’ will be explained in the next article.

Unlocking Japan’s everyday riddles

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