Japanese Politeness: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m remove unneccessary quote box template |
HLIAA14YOG (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
(9 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|How courteous is the Japanese:
He always says, "Excuse it, please."
He climbs into his neighbor's garden
And smiles and says, "I beg your pardon."
He bows, and grins a friendly grin,
And calls his hungry family in.
He grins, and bows a friendly bow:
"So sorry, this my garden now."
|[[Ogden Nash]]}}
Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, and one aspect noted by many visitors to Japan
The general principles of politeness in Japanese culture involve [[Hint Dropping|avoiding explicit disagreement or refusal]] at all costs, [[My Country, Right or Wrong|never criticizing one's own in-group]] (whether that's your family, your company, your school club or whatever) in front of outsiders, being [[Extreme Doormat|extraordinarily deferential]] toward others in general and authority figures in particular, and indirectly praising others while [[Think Nothing of It|downplaying one's own accomplishments]]. These are all taken to such extremes that it's necessary to learn a [[Keigo|drastically different vocabulary and even set of grammar rules]] for expressing degrees of politeness in the Japanese language.
The rules can interact in ways that are hard for foreigners to predict: for example, one consequence is that it is entirely polite to diss even your superiors when talking to an outsider, but ''not'' if they are present. That's because in this situation both you and your opposite are not your own people, but the representatives of your respective groups first and foremost, and the humility clause kicks in. If anyone else from either group is present, on the other hand, dissing them becomes a sign of the intra-group tensions, [[My Country, Right or Wrong|which is a big no-no]].
The Japanese side of this (as in, everyone else is rude
{{examples|Examples}}▼
== [[Anime]]
* Pictured above: Japan from ''[[
{{quote|'''
'''Child!Japan:''' ''(bows)'' Hello China, whom the sun sets upon. I am Japan...
'''China:''' Wah! This kid is so ''rude'', aru! }}
** [[Truth in Television]], this is practically how Japan addressed itself at their first diplomatic document to China (''The Emperor of the Land of the Sunrise to the Emperor of the Land of the Sunset...''). The Chinese Emperor
* On ''[[
* In ''[[Ouran High School Host Club]]'', the fact that Tamaki was raised in France and still doesn't fully understand Japanese Politeness explains a lot about his
* In ''[[Welcome to The NHK]]'' a group of people who just barely avoided committing group suicide get a stern lecture from the local
* The manga ''[[Hana Kimi]]'' has the main character, who was raised in America, attempt to make friends at her new school in Japan by marching up to people and literally shouting "HI I LIKE YOU LET'S BE FRIENDS!"
* ''[[Sayonara, Zetsubou
== [[Film]] ==
* Played seriously in ''[[The Last Samurai]]'', where Nathan does appreciates the incredible levels of politeness of the Japanese village
==
* In one of his stand-ups, [[Robin Williams]] was talking about how different nationalities get drunk. When he gets to the Japanese, he mentions how polite they are normally, bows to the audience, and says a few words in Japanese. Then, he pretends to be a drunk Japanese person. The voice suddenly goes very low and very loud. The politeness is gone, replaced with rudeness and swears.▼
== Films -- Live-Action ==▼
▲* Played seriously in ''[[The Last Samurai]]'', where Nathan does appreciates the incredible levels of politeness of the Japanese village -- while forgetting the [[Losing Your Head|traditional punishment]] for those who fail to be polite.
* ''[[Dave Barry]] Does Japan'':
{{quote|
'''First Businessman:''' Hello, sir.
'''Second Businessman:''' Hello, sir.
'''First Businessman:''' I am sorry.
'''Second Businessman:''' I am extremely sorry.
'''First Businessman:''' I cannot stand myself.
'''Second Businessman:''' I am swamp scum.
'''First Businessman:''' I am toenail dirt.
'''Second Businessman:''' I should be put to death. }}
** In the same book he describes an incident when his wife was talking to a Japanese travel agent. She wanted to book a flight, but the agent kept pushing the idea of using a train instead. Dave remarks that had they had this conversation ''after'' the trip they would've picked up on the message that the agent was too polite to say: the fact that there ''wasn't'' a flight available where and when they wanted.
* In ''[[
* A similar scene to ''[[The Last Samurai]]'' above plays out in ''[[Shogun]]'', where Rodrigues points out to Anjin-san how the Japanese are all about ceremony, and how breaking it has serious consequences, as a samurai beheads a peasant right there on the beach as they stroll by.
* Hiro from ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' exhibits this. He actually apologized to Tracy Strauss before knocking her unconscious.
* An episode of ''[[F Troop]]'' had the boys protect a Japanese woman from "honorable bad man". When she's told "dishonorable" is the better word, she replies, "Must be polite to everyone."
* An episode of ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' featured a broad parody of a "[[Japanese Ranguage|cledit]] [[Asian Speekee Engrish|caa]]"-wielding [[Japanese Tourist]] who bows deeply and says "soooooooooooooo" at the least provocation.
== [[Oral Tradition]], [[Folklore]], Myths and Legends ==
* In Japanese folklore, many otherwise bloodthirsty monsters take politeness seriously, allowing humans to [[Beat It
== [[Recorded and Stand Up Comedy]] ==
▲* In one of his stand-ups, [[Robin Williams]] was talking about how different nationalities get drunk. When he gets to the Japanese, he mentions how polite they are normally, bows to the audience, and says a few words in Japanese. Then, he pretends to be a drunk Japanese person. The voice suddenly goes very low and very loud. The politeness is gone, replaced with rudeness and
▲* In Japanese folklore, many otherwise bloodthirsty monsters take politeness seriously, allowing humans to [[Beat It By Compulsion|beat them by compulsion]]. For instance, a [[Kappa]] will always return a bow, forcing them to spill the water stored on their head which weakens them. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuchisake-onna Kuchisake-Onna] is a scissor-wielding ghost that slices up children... but if you tell her that you have an appointment to get to, she'll apologize for having inconvenienced you and let you go freely.
== [[Video Games]] ==▼
* In Irrational Games' ''[[Freedom Force]] Versus the Third Reich'', Red Sun, an Energy X-infused Japanese army captain who reacted to the energy by turning into a lot of physically identical people who have a [[Hive Mind]], follows this trope. He views Freedom Force as a [[Worthy Opponent]] and spouts phrases like "You are a most worthy adversary. Please die.". At one point [[You Have Failed Me...|he kills a Nazi]] [[Mook]] over a [[Back Stab]] on Tricolour and apologizing to the heroes for the Mook's rudeness. The game is an extremely faithful homage to [[Silver Age]] comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist (Red Sun is also a [[Third Person Person]] and spreaks, er, speaks, with a pronounced [[Engrish]] accent).▼
▲== Video Games ==
▲* In Irrational Games' ''[[Freedom Force]] Versus the Third Reich'', Red Sun, an Energy X-infused Japanese army captain who reacted to the energy by turning into a lot of physically identical people who have a [[Hive Mind]], follows this trope. He views Freedom Force as a [[Worthy Opponent]] and spouts phrases like "You are a most worthy adversary. Please die.". At one point [[You Have Failed Me|he kills a Nazi]] [[Mook]] over a [[Back Stab]] on Tricolour and apologizing to the heroes for the Mook's rudeness. The game is an extremely faithful homage to [[Silver Age]] comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist (Red Sun is also a [[Third Person Person]] and spreaks, er, speaks, with a pronounced [[Engrish]] accent).
* One of the bosses in ''[[Monster Party]]'' has been slain before you meet it. It tersely apologizes to the player for being dead.
== [[Web Comics]] ==▼
* Parodied in ''[[
▲== Web Comics ==
* In an early ''[[Starslip]]'' comic, Captain Vanderbeam and his crew visit 35th century [[Floating Continent|Space Japan]], which [https://web.archive.org/web/20120618061539/http://starslip.com/2005/08/03/starslip-number-53/ still fits this trope perfectly].▼
▲* Parodied in ''[[Casey and Andy (Webcomic)|Casey and Andy]]'', where Lord Milligan manages to become Emperor of Japan through asking for it in the right way.
▲* In an early ''[[Starslip]]'' comic, Captain Vanderbeam and his crew visit 35th century [[Floating Continent|Space Japan]], which [http://starslip.com/2005/08/03/starslip-number-53/ still fits this trope perfectly].
== [[Web Original]] ==
* Hashimoto Daichi from [[Greek Ninja]], is impolite even by Western standards, yet he seems to place some importance on politeness when it comes to other people addressing him casually.
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* Many [[WWII
* In one episode of ''[[King of the Hill]]'', Hank visits Japan and it turns out that he has a Japanese half-brother. The two had to race to stop their father Cotton from spitting on the Emperor at an apology ceremony. Hank is impatient with the slow, measured pace of interpersonal interactions, while his brother criticizes Hank's rash, cowboy attitude. By the end of the episode, both of them see the value in each other's approaches. First, the importance of
* Mocked, like everything else, on ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''. A [[Yakuza]] man is chucked through their front window because of a [[Mob War]] on the lawn, and he bows politely and asks forgiveness before rushing out the door and rejoining the fight.▼
==
* Masi Oka appeared on ''Regis & Kelly''. He said that Japan has only just started watching ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' at season one. When he was there to promote the show, he said his fans would rush up to him, shout, "YATTA!" bow deeply, and then scurry off. (Those were his words, scurry off).▼
▲* Many WWII era cartoons featured the Japanese saying "Ah, so [[Japanese Ranguage|solly]]!" [[Apologetic Attacker|as they fired on Allied forces.]]
▲* In one episode of ''[[King of the Hill]]'', Hank visits Japan and it turns out that he has a Japanese half-brother. The two had to race to stop their father Cotton from spitting on the Emperor at an apology ceremony. Hank is impatient with the slow, measured pace of interpersonal interactions, while his brother criticizes Hank's rash, cowboy attitude. By the end of the episode, both of them see the value in each other's approaches. First, the importance of [[Japanese Politeness]] is shown when Junichiro's (Hank's half- brother) method of asking everyone he meets to call him if they see Cotton actually ''works''. Then Hank's urging Junichiro to get in a subway ticket-taker's face in order to stop wasting time proves effective, much to both their surprise. Towards the end, while trying to push through a crowd, forgoes asking and just blurts out, "[[Gratuitous English|I KICK-A YOUR ASS]]!"
▲* Mocked, like everything else, on ''[[The Simpsons]]''. A [[Yakuza]] man is chucked through their front window because of a [[Mob War]] on the lawn, and he bows politely and asks forgiveness before rushing out the door and rejoining the fight.
▲* Masi Oka appeared on ''Regis & Kelly''. He said that Japan has only just started watching ''[[Heroes (TV)|Heroes]]'' at season one. When he was there to promote the show, he said his fans would rush up to him, shout, "YATTA!" bow deeply, and then scurry off. (Those were his words, scurry off).
* After the largest bank robbery in Japan, at least up to that point, the crooks sent a thank you note to the bank. [http://www.snopes.com/crime/clever/thanks.asp Snopes has it right here].
* In the wake of the 2011 tsunami, Japanese politeness has been [http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/pictures/chinese-netizens-admire-japanese-post-earthquake-behavior.html cited] as a reason that the situation has remained relatively orderly. One news article mentions an injured woman who was rescued by paramedics apologizing for the trouble and asking if there were others who needed to be helped before her.
Line 94 ⟶ 85:
* During the time of [[Imperial Japan]], and before, when assassinations were a more common way of resolving disputes, political and otherwise, the assassin would go to the victim's home and kill him. Then, he would apologize to the servants (and the family, if they weren't targets as well) for messing up the house.
* Japanese audiences at concert venues and sporting events tend to be very quiet, which can be quite eerie to westerners. In concerts, audiences usually sit quietly until the song ends, then erupt in applause afterwards. Many [[Mixed Martial Arts]] commentators at Japanese venues will remark that you could hear a pin drop in an auditorium holding 100,000 spectators.
* Japanese railways routinely charge the clean-up work after suicides to the families of the
* It's not unheard of for the [[Yakuza]] to call a press conference and make a public apology when their
{{reflist}}
[[Category:National Stereotyping Tropes]]
▲[[Category:Trope]]
|