Be Aware! Unique Japanese Date Manners | Guidable - Your Guide to a Sustainable, Wellbeing-centred Life in Japan

Be Aware! Unique Japanese Date Manners

By Guidable Writers Oct 26, 2017

This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified) Spanish

When you find someone you are interested in, you will start to want to know that person more. If that person shares the same feeling, you two might decide to go somewhere on a date. It sounds great to go on a date, and you might get excited about it. But be aware of how you behave on a first date because the beginning of the relationship is delicate. Before you completely mess up the relationship, read this article to educate yourself on how to behave and snag your date.

For Girls

1. Focus on the person in front of you, not your smartphone

I bet that you will feel nervous about a first date if you are looking forward to seeing a boy you like. You might not come up with ideas what to talk about and end up looking through messages from your friends or family. Even if you are asking them what you should talk with your boyfriend through your smartphone, it is very impolite to stare at your smartphone every time you have a chance. Do not forget you are dating and you come for it because you want to talk with that person. After chatting on your smartphone, your boyfriend may feel bored staying with you.

2.Tie your hair when you have a meal

 

If you have long hair, be cautious about how you style your hair for a date. If you want to wear it down, you should bring a band for tying your hair. Most boys do not feel comfortable if your hair drips in your food when you are eating. Most people think that it is unsanitary to have hair in your food.

3.Don’t take too many photos of what you eat

Many girls have a habit of taking photos of food and everything happening in their life. It is fun to take photos of things you like. And you may share those photos with your friends or family after finishing the date. However, it is not proper to focus on taking photos too much on your first date. Your boyfriend will misunderstand that you are not interested in him. For a first date, your Japanese boyfriend wants to know about you more, but if he is too shy to talk with you, or feels it is difficult to communicate with because of the cultural difference, he cannot say anything getting your attention while you are taking photos. In the end, he might feel dates with you are boring, and will never ask on a date again.

4.Be careful of your table manners

When you go for a first date, you might think of going to some nice and fancy restaurant with your boyfriend. When you have a meal on the first date, your boyfriend will be able to see a lot of your upbringing. If you have bad manners, your boyfriend might not want to ask for a date because they want to have an educated girlfriend. As part of Japanese eating etiquette, you should eat without leaving any food on your plate. Most Japanese people have been taught not to spoil food. If you go on a date to have Japanese food with your boyfriend, make sure to clean your plate.

For Guys

1.Be chivalrous

Some girls are impressed by chivalry. They may expect you to hold open the door in a gentlemanly fashion. And they might observe if you treat her well on a first date. Japanese girls like to feel safe with their boyfriends and guys walking on the side of the road is one example. So it is important for men to treat her like a princess to get her attention on a first date. Remember that Japanese girls understand that men are concerned about them through how men treat women.

2.Don’t send her right to her door

As mentioned above, boys have to care how they treat girls in Japan, and you should treat her like your princess if you want to get her attention more. However, you do not have to see her all the way to her house because she might feel uncomfortable showing you her place. So, on a first date, if she asks you to walk her home, there is no rule against it but if she does not mention anything you can just say goodbye to the nearest station of her house.

So, here are some tips to succeed on your first date with Japanese people. All of these mentioned here has been built up by Japanese custom. So if you want to go on a date with Japanese people, you can remember these tips. Enjoy your first date in Japan, and find someone with who you can get along more!

Nottie/ Japan