Japanese Etiquette Encyclopedia
Clear, practical guides on Japanese manners for weddings, funerals, business, and dining. Includes gift amounts, example phrases, and dress code guides.
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View All →Japanese Wedding Invitation Reply Etiquette | RSVP Postcard, Email & Online
Japanese Wedding Invitation Reply Etiquette | RSVP Postcard, Email & Online
How to Perform Shoukou (Incense Offering) at Japanese Funerals | Quick Reference by Buddhist Sect
How to Perform Shoukou (Incense Offering) at Japanese Funerals | Quick Reference by Buddhist Sect
How to Fill Out a Japanese Condolence Envelope (Kouden-Bukuro): Inscription, Inner Envelope, and Ink Color
How to Fill Out a Japanese Condolence Envelope (Kouden-Bukuro): Inscription, Inner Envelope, and Ink Color
Japanese Funeral Etiquette: Condolence Money, Dress Code, and Incense Offering
Japanese Funeral Etiquette: Condolence Money, Dress Code, and Incense Offering
Japanese Wedding Reception Desk Etiquette: What to Do and Say on the Day
Japanese Wedding Reception Desk Etiquette: What to Do and Say on the Day
Japanese Wedding Dress Code Guide | What to Wear (and What to Avoid) for Men and Women
Japanese Wedding Dress Code Guide | What to Wear (and What to Avoid) for Men and Women
How to Send a Wedding Congratulatory Telegram in Japan | Message Examples and Card Selection
How to Send a Wedding Congratulatory Telegram in Japan | Message Examples and Card Selection
What Bag to Bring to a Japanese Wedding: Etiquette, Size, and What to Avoid
What Bag to Bring to a Japanese Wedding: Etiquette, Size, and What to Avoid
Latest in Wedding & Reception
Japanese Wedding Invitation Reply Etiquette | RSVP Postcard, Email & Online
When a Japanese wedding invitation arrives, your first move should be checking your schedule and preparing your reply promptly. The general rule of thumb is to respond within two to three days of receiving it, and no later than one week out — giving the host enough lead time to manage their arrangements.
Japanese Wedding Reception Desk Etiquette: What to Do and Say on the Day
Staffing the reception desk (uketsuke) at a Japanese wedding means standing in for both families — not just ticking off names. From the day-before checklist to handing over monetary gifts (goshugi) at the end, knowing the full flow keeps you calm and the line moving.
Japanese Wedding Dress Code Guide | What to Wear (and What to Avoid) for Men and Women
Attending a wedding in Japan? Three principles keep you from going wrong: don't outshine the couple, dress to match your role and the venue, and keep everything clean and polished. Read the invitation carefully the evening it arrives, note any dress code, then work through your closet with venue formality and your relationship to the couple in mind.
How to Send a Wedding Congratulatory Telegram in Japan | Message Examples and Card Selection
In Japan, congratulatory telegrams (shukuden) should be addressed to the wedding venue and arranged to arrive by the day before the ceremony. For morning ceremonies especially, same-day delivery often conflicts with venue preparations — day-before arrival is the safer standard.
Latest in Funeral & Memorial
How to Perform Shoukou (Incense Offering) at Japanese Funerals | Quick Reference by Buddhist Sect
When your name is called at a Japanese funeral, you stand with your juzu beads in your left hand, bow before the altar, pinch powdered incense (makkou), offer it to the burner, and quietly bow to the bereaved before returning to your seat. Knowing this sequence in advance takes the edge off considerably.
How to Fill Out a Japanese Condolence Envelope (Kouden-Bukuro): Inscription, Inner Envelope, and Ink Color
Rushing from work straight to an evening wake in Japan means picking up a condolence envelope (kouden-bukuro) at a convenience store and filling it out on the spot—getting the outer inscription, inner envelope, and ink color right before you reach the reception. This guide cuts through the confusion by focusing on three decisions: inscription wording by religion, where to write on the inner envelope, and whether to use light or dark ink.
Japanese Funeral Etiquette: Condolence Money, Dress Code, and Incense Offering
When you receive news of a death on a weekday evening with only hours before the wake, the biggest uncertainties are how much condolence money to give, what to write on the envelope, what to wear, and how to perform the incense offering. This guide walks you through every decision — from the moment you hear the news to the moment you leave the venue.
How Much Condolence Money (Kouden) to Give in Japan: Amounts by Relationship and How to Present It
If you've just received news of a death and you're standing in a convenience store wondering how much to put in, which envelope to use, and what to write — this guide will walk you through it. We start with a quick-reference table of standard condolence money amounts by relationship, so you can nail down the right figure in minutes.
Latest in Business Manners
Japanese Business Card Exchange: How to Give and Receive Business Cards
In Japanese business culture, the card exchange ritual can feel deceptively simple — but how you present and receive a business card speaks volumes about your professionalism. This guide walks through the four-step process, multiple-person exchanges, what to do when things go off-script, and how to manage cards after the meeting.
Japanese Business Phone Etiquette | Answering, Calling, and Transferring
Every phone call at a Japanese company is answered in the company's name — the person who picks up shapes the caller's entire impression of the organization. This guide covers the essential patterns for receiving calls, making calls, and handling transfers.
Japanese Business Manner Basics: 21 Points Every New Professional Should Know
From answering the company phone for the first time to sending your first client email and exchanging business cards without freezing up — what new professionals need isn't willpower, it's a clear set of patterns to follow. This guide covers 21 key points across greetings, appearance, language, reporting, phone calls, email, card exchange, seating, and remote work.
Japanese Business Visit & Reception Etiquette: Seating, Tea Service & English Phrases
In Japan, the moment you notice a visitor, the impression of the entire reception is largely set within seconds — standing up to greet them, confirming their company name, the person they're meeting, and connecting them to the right contact in a matter of moments.
Latest in Dining & Table Manners
Japanese Table Manners Guide: Washoku, French, and Chinese Dining Etiquette Compared
In Japan, business dining is a weekly reality for many professionals. Whether it's a Japanese kaiseki dinner, a French course meal, or a Chinese round-table banquet, the underlying principle is the same: show consideration for your tablemates. This guide covers shared rules across all three cuisines, genre-specific etiquette, and a side-by-side comparison to help you navigate any formal meal in Japan.
Japanese Dining Etiquette: Chopstick Basics and the Complete List of NG Chopstick Moves
At a formal Japanese kaiseki dinner or business entertaining meal in Japan, mastering three things will keep you composed: hold your chopsticks correctly, treat vessels and oshibori with care, and be considerate of those around you. This guide covers proper chopstick technique in 3 steps, 12 NG chopstick taboos with alternatives, kaiseki meal flow, kaishi paper usage, and FAQs.
Japanese Napkin Etiquette: When to Open It, How to Fold It, and Where to Leave It
At a wedding reception or restaurant in Japan, many guests aren't sure when to unfold the napkin, how to fold it, or where to place it when stepping away from the table. The basic flow: unfold after ordering (or after the toast), place it folded in half on your lap with the fold facing you, leave it on the chair when stepping out, and return it loosely to the table after the meal.
Japanese French Dining Etiquette: Using Your Knife and Fork | Order, Placement, and Techniques
When the appetizer arrives at a wedding reception in Japan, one simple reflex makes everything easier: look for the outermost cutlery, place your right hand on the knife and left hand on the fork, and begin. French table manners are far easier to learn through the sequence of the meal than through abstract rules.