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Behavior & Customs
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Behavior
Your behavior will reflect back to the people who have recommended you as
uchi deshi. You should take great care in behaving properly at all times.
There are rules in the dojo which will be explained to you.
You must abide by them, even if you do not agree with them. Keep a humble
attitude at all times. Remember that you are a guest in a foreign country
and culture, so behave with respect.
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Titles
Every Sensei should always be called by their family name plus "Sensei." Also when talking to someone else, be sure to always refer to
them by the aforementioned names. In Japan it is rude to refer to people without
using a suffix after their name.
Gifts
Giving gifts when meeting is an important custom in Japan.
Bring gifts to give to the Sensei. Make sure to have
several small gifts to give if invited to someone’s home or to special
friends made during your stay. Dojo T shirts are a good present for Aikido
friends you may make in Japan.
Personal names
Use the prefix ¨-san¨ when addressing people, for instance: you should call
Nakamura ¨Nakamura-san.¨ Usually Japanese people use their family names in
daily life and will introduce themselves as for instance ¨Nakamura Ichiro,¨
with the family name first and given name last. In general, you call
Japanese people by their last names + san. In cases where you are about the
same age and have a close friendly relationship with the person, then the
Japanese first name + san can be used. Also use ¨-san¨ after names when
talking about a person to another person. You never use “...san” or any
other title (Sensei for instance) when talking about yourself.
Drinking customs
The usual custom when drinking in Japan is to fill other people’s glasses
before filling your own. Usually when you start to fill your own, someone
will take the bottle from you and offer to pour for you. One always lifts
ones glass to receive a drink, and should always drink a little bit to make
room for more in your glass. It is most polite to hold the glass with your
right hand and put your left hand flat under the glass when someone is
pouring for you. When pouring for others, hold the bottle with your right
hand and place your left hand under the bottle to stabilize it. This is also
the most polite way to hold the bottle when pouring for others.
General customs in Japan
Japanese people will often invite you home, or out. This is not always what
it seems. Often it is the idea that they would like to do something for you,
the gesture of wanting to do it, that is important. When invited, wait to
see if the person makes a step to actually realize the plans, for instance
in asking when would be a good time etc. Do not push to make an invitation
happen. Always bring a little something to give as a token when invited to
someone’s home.
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Japanese society and Budo training
Japan is a society based on teacher - student relationships. The role of
hierarchy must be understood and respected. The sempai - kohai order must be
respected. No matter what your rank or how long you have been studying Budo,
you will start as a kohai. The sempai should be consulted in all matters
concerning the training and daily life. By doing this you will gain their
respect and acceptance. Be aware that whatever you do will have an effect on
the way other foreigners will be treated. A humble attitude will get you the
farthest. Japan is a vertical society. This means that in schools,
workplaces and basically any situation where there is a group of people who
are together for a certain purpose, sempai or sensei can at times talk
roughly to kohai. Especially in situations where tasks are to be performed
or in teaching situations you will find that this is often the case.
Japanese people do not consider being ordered in a very abrupt fashion to do
things by their sempai or sensei to be demeaning. It will help to keep this
in mind during your stay.
Continued... |
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