Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan?

Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan? - Close-Up Photo of Woman Blowing a Lighter

I need to find out the reason blowing your nose is seen rude in Japan. I keep searching and find things labeled, "Is blowing your nose in public bad in Japan". I know it is bad, I want to know why it is bad.



Best Answer

I guess you can speculate, and a Japanese person will probably come up with a justification.

But the most likely explanation is: It's is considered bad manners for no particular reason.

If a Japanese person asks you why Westerners consider it rude to slurp soup - which Japanese people regularly do - there wouldn't be a reason to that either. Or rather, for some unknown reason somebody, somewhen, decided that this was rude and started teaching that to the kids.

While people often have justifications for their customs ("it is more hygenic!"), those are often a product of their culture as well. For example, in some countries people may find it "hygenic" to be circumcised or to shave their armpits; while people from other cultures would not consider those practices to have any tangible benefits.




Pictures about "Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan?"

Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan? - Person Ready to Blow a Whistle
Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan? - Woman in White Tank Top
Why is blowing your nose rude in Japan? - Close Up Photography of Adult Black and White Short Coat Dog



Is sneezing rude in Japan?

Note: It is very rare for anyone to acknowledge a sneeze in Japan, and it is customary not to say anything at all. After multiple sneezes, they use these words.

Is blowing your nose in public rude?

Blowing your nose loudly in public is rude because it's within a person's power to change the situation. Sneezing in public, by contrast, is completely acceptable, as no one can predict or hold in a sneeze.

Why is pointing considered rude in Japan?

Pointing the finger is considered rude in Japanese culture because the person pointing is associated with explicitly calling out the other individual for their wrong behavior or actions. Repeatedly pointing while speaking to another person is considered a sign of extreme frustration or an expression of dissatisfaction.

What are some things considered rude in Japan?

Don't blow your nose in public. Street scene in the Ginza, Tokyo. Blowing your nose in public in Japan is considered to be uncouth. Find a bathroom or another private place if you have to attend to a running nose. It's common to see people wearing face masks in public, especially in the winter.



How to Blow Your Nose \u0026 Other Lessons in Japanese Etiquette | On the Fringe Footnote: NBC Left Field




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