/clipart/homecomm/people.gif


Note: This article was originally written in April, '00 in Japanese.

How to beckon


    Even though it's been more than half a year since I came back to Japan, I can't help doing things still in the American ways since I have spent several years living there. For example, I say "Oh, my God" involuntarily. I don't think this troubles anyone so it must be no problem. But, people who happen to be close enough to hear me say it might think, "What is that middle aged man? He is too old to think it cool to mimic American culture."

    Before I lived overseas, I'd hardly ever crossed a road when the traffic light was red. But now I feel an urge to cross. Both in Hong Kong and the U.S. many people cross roads when there are no cars coming, even though lights are red. I' got used to it, but I know that I'd better adjust myself soon since it is a violation of traffic laws. Of course, it is a violation in the U.S., too. I heard people are caught and fined in N.Y. recently. I also heard that the rule is strict in LA, too.

    What bothers me more are gestures that I mastered while I was in the U.S.
    For example: In Japan, we beckon others waving our hands vertically with our palms down, while Americans wave theirs vertically with their palms up. Sometimes they use their index finger only, but still their palms face upward.
    Once Ms. Tetsuko Kuroyanagi wrote about achildhood exerience in her book. When on an airplane she needed service from a flight attendant and she beckoned her, the attendant only smiled back and waved at her but never came to her.
    Also, I've read a story about a Japanese family who lived in the U.S. Soon after they started living in the U.S., their children played in the front yard when a small neighborhoodgirl came and watched them playing. Because she looked like wanting to play together with them, Japanese girls beckoned for her to come and play with them. But the girl went away crying. Unfortunately the gesture the Japanese girls did looked like "Go away!" to the American girl. (Of course, they became good friends later.)
    I also heard there are "Maneki Neko"(Beckoning cat) specially made as souvenirs for foreigners. In this case the palm of the cat faces the opposite way.
    		 pics/neko.jpg
    This cat is a normal one.

    Bending an index finger to beckon others is well known in Japan through Hollywood movies. But, I'm afraid many Japanese think this gesture looks a bit arrogant. So, the problem is not only misunderstanding of the meaning of the gesture but also the subtle connotations behind it.
    When I was beckoned by this way in the U.S., I knew what the person wanted and I was able to react naturally no matter how I felt.
    On the other hand, when I beckoned others in the U.S., I needed to do it in a Western style or people wouldn't know what I wanted. And this was not easy since I needed to do what I felt was arrogant. It needed some courage and it took time before getting accustomed to doing it.
    The problem started when I came back to Japan. Since I tried hard for several years to wave my hand, palm up, naturally my hand faces upward even after I came back to Japan. Among young people it may be OK. But, if you do this to your boss, you are in a big trouble. I don't think it take long for me to adjust to Japanese way, but, in this case, what I tried hard in the U.S. backfired in Japan.

    There is another gesture that I did in Japan and scared myself. It is shrugging, raising the shoulders with your hands facing outside.
    This looks very western. Some Japanese may feel ridiculed if somebody do it to him. In fact when my subordinate did this to me when I worked in the U.S., I felt upset. I'm sure that you can see this gesture fairly often when you discuss who is responsible for any mistakes that happened. Even though the person who did this had nothing to imply, it looks like the symbol of irresponsibility to Japanese.
    Recently I did this gesture when I was talking with my boss. You can imagine how embarrassed and scared I was then.

    P.S.
    Another example of different gestures between in Japan and in the U.S.
    In Japan we point at our noses when we refer to ourselves while Americans point at their chests. People who are accustomed to dealing with Japanese may be able to understand what the Japanese mean, but usually people think that his nose may be itchy.

    Keiichiro


    previous page Japanese next page
    Accesses: