Bowing in Japan

You probably know that the Japanese have an extensive custom of bowing as a greeting or to show thanks or respect, called ojigi. There are three different kinds of bowing: the casual eshaku (EH-shaku) bow made with a 15 degree inclination, often made when passing coworkers in the hallway; the keirei, a deeper 30 degree bow that’s most used in business; and the sai-keirei, in which you incline your head and body 45 degrees to show special respect to someone. To do a proper bow, stand up straight with your feet together, look the person you’re bowing to in the eyes, and bow from your waist for 1-2 seconds before standing up again. Remember, in business settings, the goal is raise the other party up by lowering yourself, which in itself is quite a metaphor for much of Japanese society, hence learning to bow properly will help you understand Japan a little better. Bowing is also important in Japanese martial arts, and it can come in handy if you should encounter any Jedi Knights in your travels.