日本の人々の好きなところ

Things That I Like About Japanese People

※日本語訳は英文に下にございます！

Hi, it’s Derek from Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi. After living in Japan and teaching English in Japan for over 20 years, I have come to really like Japanese people. Japanese people are kind, respectful, considerate to others, polite, punctual and orderly. Here are some things that showcase those things.

Kindness

When I speak to Japanese people, they usually kindly ask me where I am from. They sometimes compliment me on my Japanese. This has happened often over the years regardless of my Japanese level.

Bowing

Japanese use bowing in many situations to show respect. They use it when meeting someone for the first time or meeting someone that they already know, apologizing, saying goodbye or any situation when they wish to show respect.

Elevator Etiquette

People are generally very quiet in elevators. They move to the side of back of the elevator when people come in. The person standing near the doors usually pushes the “Close” button after people get off, giving everybody remaining in the elevator less waiting time. And some people getting off give a slight bow and say something to the people remaining in the elevator, like an apology for making the elevator stop and getting out first.

Escalator Etiquette

People move to one side to allow people who are in a hurry to pass them and walk up the escalator.

Public Transportation Etiquette

People line up. In buses and trains, they keep their voices down. Some people offer their seat to elderly people.

Apologizing for the Smallest Things

Japanese apologize if they think they have disturbed or inconvenienced you, even for the smallest things.

Anger Suppressed in Public

Showing anger in public is considered bad manners, so outbursts of anger are not normally seen in public.

Punctual

Japanese people are normally very punctual for appointments.

Orderly

Japanese are very orderly in public. They line up and in busy places like train stations, people walking in the same direction walk on the same side. This allows a smooth flow.

Japanese People Are Great!

As you can see, Japanese people are kind, respectful, considerate to others, polite, orderly and punctual. I am happy to be living in a country with such great people. It makes living in Japan and teaching at my English school in Tsukaguchi great!

こんにちは、スミス英会話塚口校のデレクです。20年以上日本に住み、日本で英語を教えてきて、日本の人々が本当に好きになりました。日本人は親切で、礼儀正しく、他人を思いやり、礼儀正しく、時間を守り、秩序を守ります。日本の人々の好きなところを示すものをいくつか紹介します。

親切

日本の人々と話すと、たいてい親切に出身地を聞かれ、私の日本語を褒めてもらうこともあります。これは私の日本語レベルに関係なく、今まで何度も経験があります。

お辞儀

日本の人々は多くの場面でお辞儀をして敬意を表します。初めて会う人、すでに知っている人に会うとき、謝るとき、別れを告げるときなど、敬意を表したいときに使います。

エレベーターのエチケット

エレベーターの中では、いつもとても静かです。人が乗ってくると、エレベーターの横や後ろに移動します。ドアの近くに立っている人は、人が降りた後に“閉まるボタン”を押して、乗客全員の待ち時間を減らそうとしてくれます。そして中には降りる際に、エレベーターを止めて先に降りたことを詫びるかのように、エレベーターに残っている人に軽くお辞儀をして声かけをする人もいます。

エスカレーターのマナー

エスカレーターでは、片側に立って急いでいる人が歩けるようにしています。

公共交通機関のマナー

人々は列を作り並びます。バスや電車では小声で会話し、お年寄りに席を譲る人もいます。