History Main / JapanesePoliteness

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, and one aspect noted by many visitors to Japan -- especially Western ones -- is the extreme emphasis on politeness. The general principles of politeness in Japanese culture involve avoiding explicit disagreement or refusal at all costs, never criticizing one's own in-group (whether that's your family, your company, your school club or whatever) in front of outsiders, being extraordinarily deferential toward others in general and authority figures in particular, and praising others while downplaying one's own accomplishments. These are all taken to such extremes that it's necessary to learn a [[{{Keigo}} drastically different vocabulary]] for expressing degrees of politeness in the Japanese language. This is all a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. Although other Asian cultures often come across to Westerners as obsessed with confusing rules of etiquette, the Japanese have a reputation for being ridiculously polite even in other Asian countries. [[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]] It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

Scenarios involving TheChikan often play on this with the target not resisting or making a fuss because of not wanting to disturb the other passengers, and will simply keep pushing the hands off and politely asking the chikan to stop.

The Japanese side of this (as in, everyone else is rude) often comes out as {{Eagleland}}. Contrast AsianRudeness.

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, and one aspect noted by many visitors to Japan -- especially Western ones -- is the extreme emphasis on politeness. The general principles of politeness in Japanese culture involve avoiding explicit disagreement or refusal at all costs, never criticizing one's own in-group (whether that's your family, your company, your school club or whatever) in front of outsiders, being extraordinarily deferential toward others in general and authority figures in particular, and praising others while downplaying one's own accomplishments. These are all taken to such extremes that it's necessary to learn a [[{{Keigo}} drastically different vocabulary]] for expressing degrees of politeness in the Japanese language. This is all a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. Although other Asian cultures often come across to Westerners as obsessed with confusing rules of etiquette, the Japanese have a reputation for being ridiculously polite even in other Asian countries. [[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

* Japan from ''AxisPowersHetalia'' acts like this, even at his rudest:

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, and one aspect noted by many visitors to Japan - especially Western ones - is the extreme emphasis on politeness. The general principles of politeness in Japanese culture involve avoiding explicit disagreement or refusal at all costs, never criticizing one's own in-group (whether that's your family, your company, your school club or whatever) in front of outsiders, being extraordinarily deferential toward others in general and authority figures in particular, and praising others while downplaying one's own accomplishments. These are all taken to such extremes that it's necessary to learn a [[{{Keigo}} drastically different vocabulary]] for expressing degrees of politeness in the Japanese language. This is all a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. Although other Asian cultures often come across to Westerners as obsessed with confusing rules of etiquette, the Japanese have a reputation for being ridiculously polite even in other Asian countries. [[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

-->'''China''': I'm China, aru! (...) Say, what's your name, aru?
-->'''Child!Japan''': (bows) Hello China, whom the sun sets upon. I am Japan...
-->'''China''': Wah! This kid is so ''rude'', aru!
** TruthInTelevision, 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 was of course pissed off, saying "bring not those impolite states before me."
*** And when the messengers returned to Japan they claimed that the Chinese reply was lost to pirates on the way, probably to avoid a ShootTheMessenger situation.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* Played seriously in ''TheLastSamurai'', where Nathan does appreciates the incredible levels of politeness of the Japanese village.
** Whilst forgetting the [[LosingYourHead traditional punishment]] for those who fail to be polite
*** A similar scene 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.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

'''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.

[[AC:{{Live-Action TV}}]]
* Hiro from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' exhibits this. He actually apologized to Tracy Strauss before knocking her unconscious.
* An episode of ''FTroop'' 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."

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebComics]]
* Parodied in ''CaseyAndAndy'' where Lord Milligan manages to become emperor of Japan through asking for it in the right way.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* In one episode of ''KingOfTheHill'', 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.
** At one point, Hank urges Junichiro (his half-brother) to get in a subway ticket-taker's face in order to stop wasting time. Junichiro ''does'', and much to both of their surprise, it works.
*** Towards the end, while trying to push through a crowd, forgoes asking and just blurts out, "[[GratuitousEnglish I KICK-A YOUR ASS]]!"
* Mocked, like everything else, on ''TheSimpsons''. 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.

[[AC:RealLife]]
* Masi Oka appeared on ''Regis & Kelly''. He said that Japan has only just started watching ''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).

** And 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 Japan even [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYw_9kYssd0&playnext_from=TL&videos=phiPClQD6Bo zombies]] are polite.

<<|NationalStereotypingTropes|>>

* Many WWII era cartoons featured the Japanese saying "Ah, so [[JapaneseRanguage solly]]!" as they fired on allied forces.

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, and one aspect noted by many visitors to Japan - especially Western ones - is the extreme emphasis on politeness. The general principles of politeness in Japanese culture involve avoiding explicit disagreement or refusal at all costs, never criticizing one's own in-group (whether that's your family, your company, your school club or whatever) in front of outsiders, being extraordinarily deferential toward others in general and authority figures in particular, and praising others while downplaying one's own accomplishments. These are all taken to such extremes that it's necessary to learn a [[Keigo drastically different vocabulary]] for expressing degrees of politeness in the Japanese language. This is all a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. Although other Asian cultures often come across to Westerners as obsessed with confusing rules of etiquette, the Japanese have a reputation for being ridiculously polite even in other Asian countries. [[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, particularly in Western eyes: visitors to Japan note the extreme politeness compared to other cultures. This is a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. Furthermore, the word "No" does not exist in the Japanese language, and direct refusal of anything is considered extremely rude. No other country on Earth quite matches their level of exacting etiquette, though super-politeness is common throughout Asia[[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

The Japanese side of this (as in, everyone else is rude) often comes out as {{Eagleland}}.
Compare {{Keigo}}, which is the most polite register of the Japanese language, employed when the speaker is being extremely respectful.

Contrast AsianRudeness.

* Hiro from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' exhibits this. He actually apologized to Tracy Strauss before knocking her unconscious.
* RealLife example: Masi Oka recently appeared on ''Regis & Kelly''. He said that Japan has only just started watching ''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).

* Played seriously in ''TheLastSamurai'', where Nathan does appreciates the incredible levels of politeness of the Japanese village.
** Whilst forgetting the [[LosingYourHead traditional punishment]] for those who fail to be polite
*** A similar scene 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.
* Mocked, like everything else, on ''TheSimpsons''. 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.
* Parodied in ''CaseyAndAndy'' where Lord Milligan manages to become emperor of Japan through asking for it in the right way.
* Suzume Sakurajosui in ''CyberTeamInAkihabara'' is noteworthy for always speaking in an extremely polite register, especially compared with the other members of the Cyber Team.
* In an early ''{{Starslip}}'' comic, Captain Vanderbeam and his crew visit 35th century [[FloatingContinent Space Japan]], which [[http://starslip.com/2005/08/03/starslip-number-53/ still fits this trope perfectly]].
* An episode of FTroop 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."

[[quoteright:256:[[MonsterParty http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/monsteroops-4_284.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:256:Even their boss monsters apologize for not making you fight them.]]

* In Irrational Games' ''FreedomForce 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 HiveMind, follows this trope. He views Freedom Force as a WorthyOpponent and spouts phrases like "You are a most worthy opponent. Please die.", at one point [[YouHaveFailedMe killing a Nazi]] {{Mook}} over a BackStab on Tricolour and apologizing to the heroes for the Mook's rudeness. The game is an extremely faithful homage to SilverAge comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist (Red Sun is also a ThirdPersonPerson and spreaks, er, speaks, with a pronounced {{Engrish}} accent).

* In Irrational Games' ''FreedomForce Versus the Third Reich'', Red Sun is an Energy X-infused Japanese army captain who reacted to the energy by turning into a lot of physically identical people who have a HiveMind. He views Freedom Force as a WorthyOpponent and spouts phrases like "You are a worthy adversary, at one point killing a Nazi {{Mook}} over a BackStab on Tricolour. The game is an extremely faithful homage to SilverAge comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist (Red Sun is also a ThirdPersonPerson and spreaks, er, speaks, with a pronounced {{Engrish}} accent).

* In Irrational Games' ''FreedomForce Versus the Third Reich'', Red Sun is an Energy X-infused Japanese army captain who reacted to the energy by turning into a lot of physically identical people who have a HiveMind. He views Freedom Force as a WorthyOpponent and spouts phrases like "You are a worthy adversary, at one point killing a Nazi {{Mook}} over a SneakAttack on Tricolour. The game is an extremely faithful homage to SilverAge comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist (Red Sun is also a ThirdPersonPerson and spreaks, er, speaks, with a pronounced {{Engrish}} accent).

* In Irrational Games' ''Freedom Force Versus the Third Reich'', Japanese military officers who get infused with Energy X turn into Red Suns, powerful enemies with a HiveMind who spout phrases like "You are a worthy adversary." The game is an extremely faithful homage to SilverAge comics, which often featured well-meaning writers and artists perpetuating unpleasant stereotypes while attempting to be anti-racist.

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, particularly in Western eyes: visitors to Japan note the extreme politeness compared to other cultures. This is a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. No other country on Earth quite matches their level of exacting etiquette, though super-politeness is common throughout Asia[[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to accept gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

[[caption-width-right:256:Figures a game made by the Japanese would apologize for your automatic win.]]

** "I KICK-A YOUR ASS!"

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, particularly in Western eyes: visitors to Japan note the extreme politeness compared to other cultures. This is a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. No other country on Earth quite matches their level of exacting etiquette, though super-politeness is common throughout Asia[[hottip:*:In China, for instance, it's considered selfish for a visitor to except gifts from the host, though the host must make the offer anyway]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

Japan has a very distinct culture compared to its neighbors, particularly in Western eyes: visitors to Japan note the extreme politeness compared to other cultures. No other country on earth quite matches their level of exacting etiquette (except, perhaps, Korea). This is a relic from MedievalJapan when it had a [[FantasticCasteSystem rigid caste system]]. It's TruthInTelevision, but seems to come out in broad parody.

* ''Dave Barry Does Japan'':

[[quoteright:256:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/monsteroops-4_284.png]]
[[caption-width-right:256:[[MonsterParty This game]] apologizes for your automatic win.]]

* Many WWII era cartoons featured the Japanese saying "Ah, so solly!" as they fired on allied forces.