The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CUSTOM

JAPANESE CUSTOM OF GREETING IS THE BOW. THE BOW IS NOT ONLY
A PHYSICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GREETING, BUT ALSO THE
EXPRESSION OF VARYING DEGREES OF EMOTIONS. ONE BOWS
DIFFERENTLY TO PARENTS, FRIENDS, SERVANTS, OLDER SIBLINGS,
ETC. THE DIFFERENCE BEING THE DEPTH OF THE BOW, WHETHER
A NOD OF THE HEAD, TO THE WAIST, OR TO THE FLOOR. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE CHILD'S GOOD MORNING SALUTATION IS NOT JUST
THE VERBAL ONE OF "OHAYO GOZAIMASU" BUT ACCOMPANIED BY A
FORMAL BOW, WHICH MEANS KNEELING (BOTH FEET) ON THE FLOOR
WITH HEAD TOUCHING ONE'S HANDS WHICH ARE LAID PALMS DOWN
ON THE FLOOR AT BENDED KNEES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; JAPAN

Date learned: 08-01-1964