In Japanese society, human relationships—ningen kankei (人間関係)—are the foundation of every interaction, whether personal or professional. What holds this delicate web together is something called Reigi (礼儀) — the art of showing respect.
What is Reigi?
Reigi is not just about manners; it’s about expressing respect to the other person, often based on their age, position, or social relationship — what the Japanese call uchi (内) and soto (外) dynamics.
Being reigi tadashii (礼儀正しい), or polite and proper, is seen as a reflection of a person’s majime (真面目) character — sincere and disciplined.
On the other hand, if someone misses even a simple bow or fails to speak respectfully at the right moment, they may be called reigi shirazu (礼儀知らず) – someone who doesn’t know basic courtesy. In Japan, that’s quite serious.
🏯 The Samurai Roots of Reigi
Why is reigi so deeply respected in Japan?
Because it has roots going back to the samurai era, when discipline, loyalty, and honor were everything. Samurai were trained to live by bushido, a strict code of ethics, where practicing reigi was part of their way of life. That mindset still lingers in modern Japan — especially in formal settings like business and education.
🏫 Shitsuke & Aisatsu: Taught from Day One
In Japan, good manners aren’t just expected — they’re taught from a young age. This is called shitsuke (躾), which means discipline or training in proper behavior.
From kindergarten, children learn how to do aisatsu (greetings) properly — like saying “Ohayou gozaimasu” in the morning and bowing at the right angle depending on who they’re talking to.
And it doesn’t stop at school!
When people start their first job (as a shinnyūshain, or new employee), or even when they join as a part-timer (arubaito), they’re taught these things again.
How to bow, how to talk to customers and seniors politely, how to say “kashikomarimashita” with the right tone — it’s all part of the training.
Because in Japan, being polite isn’t just nice — it shows you’re a responsible and respectful person.
🙇♂️ Examples of Reigi in Daily Life
- Bowing when entering/leaving a room
- Using keigo (honorific language) properly
- Saying otsukaresama desu to coworkers after work
- Not pouring your own drink at a party — you pour for others
- Standing and letting a senior sit first
- Avoiding direct refusals (thanks to enryo no kokoro)
😄 Bureikō – When Reigi Takes a Break
There are moments when Japanese culture allows people to relax social formality. That’s called bureikō (無礼講) — a situation, like a drinking party, where hierarchy is put aside, and people can speak more openly.
Still, many Japanese are careful not to overstep, even during bureikō!
✍️ Final Thought
In Japan, reigi is more than just manners — it’s an expression of who you are. If you’re polite, respectful, and considerate, people will see you as majime and trustworthy.
And yes, even just one proper bow at the right moment can say more than a thousand words.
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