For those who doubt this statement or find it odd, I can offer an explanation.
First of all, tipping someone implicitly puts them in a servile position and says you're off better than them. Secondly, and this is probably the killer, it says that you don't think they would manage without your help.
Which just goes to show that everywhere you go, you learn something new which can be different ;)
It's good knowledge to have before going to Japan, but encountering a Japanese person who would actually be offended if you were to offer a tip would be quite rare, I think. They're well aware tipping exists in other cultures. And they don't expect you to know the Japanese way of doing things. It could be interesting to see how they react if a Japanese person were to attempt it though. :)
Also, you could say a form of tipping does exist in Japan (kokorozuke), though it's quite different than what we usually think of tipping. The biggest differences being:
1. It's sort of a way of saying, "Sorry for the trouble" rather than "rating" their service.
2. You give the "tip" beforehand rather than afterwards. And it's likely you'll have to insist that they take it.
You can see this custom in high-end ryokans for example, but even then, it's not required or anything.
I've tipped taxi drivers in Tokyo before and they're pretty appreciative, so maybe they just got used to foreign tourists tipping them and put up with it.
> "First of all, tipping someone implicitly puts them in a servile position and says you're off better than them. Secondly, and this is probably the killer, it says that you don't think they would manage without your help."
How do you come to this conclusion? When I tip someone I express my gratitude for the good service to the specific employee of some company that did a great job.
I never thought of it as the person receiving a tip is below me or anything like that and I doubt that this is how most people think about it.
It might be true that people in Japan feel this way about tipping, but your statement was very general as if it is an observation about the very nature of tipping itself.
It's also unnecessary -- many Japanese establishments include a service fee in the bill.
Conventions appear to be changing in some countries: I've seen restaurants and stands in Australia, well-known as a country where tipping is not done, put out tip cups with signs encouraging patrons to tip.
I haven't seen that (in my 2+ years living here). Recently though I've noticed a lot of stores showing 2 prices, one with tax and one without, but when I first moved here almost every store I went to only showed the price with tax included. I think the recent change is due to the sales tax increase.
josteink|11 years ago
First of all, tipping someone implicitly puts them in a servile position and says you're off better than them. Secondly, and this is probably the killer, it says that you don't think they would manage without your help.
Which just goes to show that everywhere you go, you learn something new which can be different ;)
solicode|11 years ago
Also, you could say a form of tipping does exist in Japan (kokorozuke), though it's quite different than what we usually think of tipping. The biggest differences being: 1. It's sort of a way of saying, "Sorry for the trouble" rather than "rating" their service. 2. You give the "tip" beforehand rather than afterwards. And it's likely you'll have to insist that they take it.
You can see this custom in high-end ryokans for example, but even then, it's not required or anything.
damian2000|11 years ago
DominikR|11 years ago
How do you come to this conclusion? When I tip someone I express my gratitude for the good service to the specific employee of some company that did a great job.
I never thought of it as the person receiving a tip is below me or anything like that and I doubt that this is how most people think about it.
It might be true that people in Japan feel this way about tipping, but your statement was very general as if it is an observation about the very nature of tipping itself.
6t6t6|11 years ago
bitwize|11 years ago
Conventions appear to be changing in some countries: I've seen restaurants and stands in Australia, well-known as a country where tipping is not done, put out tip cups with signs encouraging patrons to tip.
shawnps|11 years ago
sleepyhead|11 years ago