Life in the most courteous country in the world

Omotenashi – the Japanese hospitality always exerts a strong allure, evoking curiosity and admiration from visitors when they explore the land of the rising sun.

Exploring Japan: Discovering life in the most polite nation on earth

'As the sun began to set, it served as a reminder that our bicycle tour around Ninoshima Island, in Hiroshima Bay, had been quite long and we might be late for the last ferry back to the mainland. Unsure of the timing, we stopped at a roadside bar to inquire,' recounted Steve John Powell and Angeles Marin Cabello, two Western travelers.

'You might catch the ferry on time if you take a shortcut,' a local whispered, then stepped outside, indicating a small mountain path to us. Despite the darkness, we hesitated momentarily but had no other choice. Looking around, we were pleasantly surprised to see newfound acquaintances pedaling behind us, maintaining a certain distance to ensure we didn't get lost. And they only turned back after seeing us safely descending,' the impression of two travelers when first encountering Omotenashi – the Japanese hospitality.

Steve and Angeles were not the first to be enchanted by a noble trait of the locals upon arriving in Japan: that is the hospitality, friendliness, and honesty. In today's Japanese society, Omotenashi embodies a combination of politeness, refinement, with a desire to maintain harmony and avoid conflicts. They voluntarily wear masks when they have a cold, to prevent spreading it to others. Neighbors give each other gifts, store clerks greet you with bows, they hold your change under your palm when returning it, to prevent it from falling to the ground. When you leave the store, they continue bowing until you're out of sight. Taxi drivers don't demand tips, and everything here is designed very thoughtfully to make people feel well-cared for.

The lifestyle of Japanese people not only delights foreigners but also brings joy to those who have lived here for a long time. 'People bow when they sit next to you on the bus, and they bow again when they stand up,' said Carmen Lagasca, a Spanish teacher who has lived here for 9 years.

Noriko Kobayashi, head of the domestic tourism office at DiscoverLink Setouchi, said: 'We are taught that if someone does something good to you, you should do something similar for others. But when someone does something bad to you, you shouldn't retaliate. I think this belief has shaped our behavior.

So, where does this kindness, generosity, and politeness in communication come from? According to Isao Kumakura, honorary professor at the Institute of Ethnology at the National Museum of Osaka, many Japanese rituals have their origins in tea ceremonies and martial arts. In fact, Omotenashi means 'spirit of service', originating from the tea ceremony.

Similarly, courtesy and compassion are core values of Bushido that samurai revered. Over the years, people have relied on this as the basis for social etiquette rules.

Many tourists say the greatest thing about experiencing the hospitality of the locals here is feeling happier and finding their own personality softer. Therefore, we feel happier when we pick up a lost wallet and hand it over to the police, easily smile and give way to other drivers, or take trash home instead of littering in public places...

Source: Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour