Bowing is the most traditional form of greeting in Japan since the 8th century. It may seem simple, but the act of bowing in reverence, called ojigi [お辞儀], literally means “bow.” This custom is full of meanings.
This demonstration of respect is so important that Japanese people bow even when they are talking on the phone with no one watching. In today’s article, we will see various occasions when people should bow.
Depending on how it is done, it can indicate the degree of importance of both the person being greeted and the one greeting. There are situations where some prostrate themselves on the ground in another bow called dogeza.
See a list of situations where Japanese people usually bow, then we will talk a little about each of them.
When apologizing During Greetings Thanks Introductions As a form of Respect To customers In Sports In Performances In religious situations
Table of Contents
Bowing when apologizing
As shown in the illustration at the beginning of the article, if you make a mistake, you should apologize and bow. A light apology requires you to slightly lower your head by 10 degrees.
Let’s say you are a waiter and spill hot coffee on a customer. You can bow at a 45-degree angle and say: Moushiwake Gozaimasen, which literally means “I’m very sorry.”
Now let’s say you committed a crime and want to apologize to the victim. You should bow in a kneeling position and say: Makoto ni Moushiwake Gozaimasen deshita, which means “I sincerely apologize for what I did.”
Bowing during Greetings
The most common greeting is to slightly lower the head and shoulders by up to 10 degrees. For Japanese people, this movement is somewhat automatic and sometimes goes unnoticed due to how quick and short the head tilt is.
This gesture of respect is used both to greet and to say goodbye. In extremely formal circumstances, a full bow can be performed. There are occasions when the classic handshake can be performed.
Bowing when giving Thanks
If someone gives you a place in line, it is common to bow your head slightly in thanks. It is also very common for drivers to bow their heads in gratitude for small courtesies.
Any occasion where you feel the need to thank someone can be a moment to bow. It is likely that the person who also did the favor will slightly bow their head as a sign of “it was nothing.”
Bowing in Introductions
In casual and formal introductions, you should bow the upper part of your body at an angle of up to 30 degrees. If the person is extremely important, you can bow up to 45 degrees. It is important to keep your head and shoulders straight and your arms aligned. There is no reason to maintain eye contact during a bow (it is considered rude).
In business, after exchanging “meishi” (business cards), those involved should bow and remain in that position for a moment before returning to an upright position. Maintain a distance to avoid bumping heads (this happens).
Bowing as a form of Respect
The act of bowing is an expression of humility and always indicates respect. Some people tend to bow to animals or even objects. Even animals have gotten used to it, and in Nara, you can see some deer bowing. In the photo, we have a caretaker bowing to a whale.
Bowing to customers
In Japan, customers are considered very important. It is very common for employees to bow before customers. Some stores and companies instruct their employees on the correct way to bow to a customer.
Bowing in Sports
Other occasions when Japanese people bow are before or after sports matches, martial arts, sumo, and even card games like Karuta. On these occasions, it is customary to bow by up to 20 degrees.
At the beginning of a sport, the person bows and says “yoroshiku onegai shimasu,” and at the end, while bowing, they say “arigatou gozaimashita.” In some sports like martial arts and karuta, you should bow not only to your opponent but also to the coach or the person executing the game.
Bowing in Performances
Like in the West, it is common for artists to bow in response to applause. In a theater performance, geisha, events where actors, voice actors are present performing, and even music shows.
In the case of geishas or traditional performances, artists often bow completely on their knees.
Bowing in religious situations
It is also common to bow slightly to the gods at a Shinto shrine. Shinto ceremonies almost always require a full bow from a kneeling position.
Of course, there are many other occasions when you should bow. If you know one that was not mentioned, comment here.
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