What are the unspoken social rules? I feel like I should have a better idea of these given how much anime I've watched but shows are a poor substitute for actual cultural knowledge.
Honestly, I was merely quoting (from vague memory) what he said.
I only know a handful things myself and they mainly boil down to general politeness that should be obvious. Like being quiet on public transport, not loitering around where people are walking, using polite speech, when talking to strangers and such. Things that should be the norm here as well, but are a lot more tolerated than over there.
The one thing I know that doesn't really fall under that (and it's oddly specific), is their weird thing about business cards. They are to be offered and received with both hands. Instead of just putting it away the receiver puts it down on the table and even occasionally glances favourably at it, during the meeting. This is because apparently they are viewed as an extension of the other person, so they need to be treated respectfully.
There are so many rules with business cards that it borders on parody when you lay them all out at once. Its actually beyond the famous American Psycho scene, which was an intentional over the top parody.
Japanese social culture is similar to Kanji in a lot of ways. Something almost impenetrably complicated and deep that you need to have been born into it to ever truly understand, otherwise you will spend the rest of your life basically having to be a scholar of it to maintain the usable level of a common man there.
Unspoken rules vary place to place. They're unspoken. Things like proper shoe etiquette when visiting. Not eating while walking. Masking for a cough when you're actually actively sick and not anytime else. Bringing a gift to new neighbors/when moving in (as said above). Use proper dialects and proper honorifics in the proper situations. Speak the language as your primary effort in public. And don't act like a fuckin' weeb.
Basically, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". They don't make lists of things, they just DO them. In internet dialect terms: lurk moar. Learn by observation the local customs. And if you fall afoul of them, apologize for not being within them.
What are the unspoken social rules? I feel like I should have a better idea of these given how much anime I've watched but shows are a poor substitute for actual cultural knowledge.
Honestly, I was merely quoting (from vague memory) what he said.
I only know a handful things myself and they mainly boil down to general politeness that should be obvious. Like being quiet on public transport, not loitering around where people are walking, using polite speech, when talking to strangers and such. Things that should be the norm here as well, but are a lot more tolerated than over there.
The one thing I know that doesn't really fall under that (and it's oddly specific), is their weird thing about business cards. They are to be offered and received with both hands. Instead of just putting it away the receiver puts it down on the table and even occasionally glances favourably at it, during the meeting. This is because apparently they are viewed as an extension of the other person, so they need to be treated respectfully.
There are so many rules with business cards that it borders on parody when you lay them all out at once. Its actually beyond the famous American Psycho scene, which was an intentional over the top parody.
Japanese social culture is similar to Kanji in a lot of ways. Something almost impenetrably complicated and deep that you need to have been born into it to ever truly understand, otherwise you will spend the rest of your life basically having to be a scholar of it to maintain the usable level of a common man there.
Unspoken rules vary place to place. They're unspoken. Things like proper shoe etiquette when visiting. Not eating while walking. Masking for a cough when you're actually actively sick and not anytime else. Bringing a gift to new neighbors/when moving in (as said above). Use proper dialects and proper honorifics in the proper situations. Speak the language as your primary effort in public. And don't act like a fuckin' weeb.
Basically, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". They don't make lists of things, they just DO them. In internet dialect terms: lurk moar. Learn by observation the local customs. And if you fall afoul of them, apologize for not being within them.