Originally Posted By 1Gee1 Someone told me that I'd have to be careful not to wear certain colors that might be offensive to the Japanese people. Is there any truth in this? If so, what colors?
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Tattoos are offensive because they are associated with gangsters ("Yakuza"). The Japanese take that rather seriously. Haven't heard anything about colors, but you could try using Google for some of your questions.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Nope. I've seen all colors of the rainbow walking the streets of Tokyo. And I'm not just talking about fashion colors. Take a trip to Harajuku, especially on weekends to find out. Hehehe. Just wear something comfortable and casual for yourself and people in your group. Headwear, like caps and visors, are also fine. Enjoy! -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara And remember that while it's low to mid 60s during the day, once the sun goes down it drops into the 50s and is chilly. With the wind off the bay, it can feel colder than it is.
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 I have also heard that it is impolite to blow you nose in public...with ANY color of Kleenex!
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi It's OK to blow your nose. Just do it discreetly and as quietly as you can. Many people (mostly women) use handkerchiefs to remove sweat but use facial tissues for their noses. Unfortunately, most Japanese men don't cover while sneezing, coughing or burping. Hehehe. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By The Goddess Mara Do not blow your nose at the dinner table. It's okay to dab discretely, but don't blow and HONK.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss My impression is that Japanese casual wear is more fashionable than what you see at the American parks; no one is dressed slovenly, or showing too much.
Originally Posted By DuffyDad I'd say that's a very accurate impression, trekkerus. But, 1Gee1, you'll also see lots of people (of all ages) decked out in Disney caps and accessories only for the Japanese market. People are fashionable, but also so FUN! And, if you're going to DisneySea, I just saw these really awesome T-shirts of Mickey and Donald in the tradition of those "tuxedo T-shirts" from the 80s...you know the ones? The great thing about them is that, with the right accessories, they can be just as fashionable as they are playful. Oops, I think I've wandered off topic. Have fun!
Originally Posted By DuffyDad They have those tees at TDL, too! And there's Minnie and Daisy as well...and Pooh, but I personally don't think the Pooh one's as good, although I love Pooh.
Originally Posted By Mr F Why would a COLOR offend anyone? it is just a COLOR! That's like saying the color "Orange" offends me, because it is so orangey and it is so offensive!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Why would a COLOR offend anyone? it is just a COLOR! >>> For the same reason that a particular finger gesture might offend someone, even though it's just a finger. What's the big deal about holding up a particular finger at someone? Why would someone care? The answer is that we've collectively decided for whatever reason, at least in the US, that holding up one particular finger is to be interpreted as an insult. The reason that someone is offended when receiving such a gesture is not because of the actual finger, but that they know that the person making the gesture intends to convey a certain message because of the commonly-held understanding of what holding up that particular finger means. Color is one of many things that might have special significance in a particular culture. Having said that, you're not going to offend anyone in Japan by the color of your clothes.
Originally Posted By Mr F True, but you don't find a Middle Finger lying around in nature. You do find COLORS everywhere in nature. It's like if you were offended my the color pink because to you it hold a malicious meaning. Does that mean you are going to be offended by every pink flower of bird you see? What you you were offended by the color blue? The whole sky is blue, and so is the ocean. Good luck with that! My point is, people are offended by the STUPIDEST things.
Originally Posted By Mr X I found a middle finger lying around in nature once. I packed it in ice and brought it to the hospital.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Certain colors at certain times and in certain places can, indeed, evoke specific reactions. Try wearing the "wrong" color in a gang territory, for example. That would be a negative reaction. If you're a lady, try wearing a white dress to a friend's wedding, and see what kind of reaction you'll get from most of the older (or more tradition minded) guests. Wear red and white on game days in Norman, Oklahoma and you'll suddenly have a couple of thousand close, personal friends. Or wear red on Gay Days at Disneyland to get a similar response. (Whether it's intended or not!) It's not the color itself that attracts or repels. It's the meaning that is given to it for specific purposes. And as tradition bound as many aspects of Japanese culture are, it's a valid question to ask if there are any colors that would be considered "taboo."
Originally Posted By Mr X ***And as tradition bound as many aspects of Japanese culture are, it's a valid question to ask if there are any colors that would be considered "taboo." Sure. Better to inquire than not, when it comes to foreign travel. The cool thing about Japan is, although it is CERTAINLY true that the culture is extremely tradition bound, for the most part Japanese people are extremely forgiving of foreign faux pas so there's really no need to worry much. The only real biggie no-no I can think of has to do with eating etiquette, specifically what not to do with your chopsticks. You NEVER hand food from one pair of chopsticks to someone elses pair (which would be awkward anyway), nor do you "stick" your chopsticks into a bowl of rice (resting them across the top of a bowl is fine). Both of these mistakes could result in gasps, as they are both associated strictly with funeral rituals (nice way to ruin a meal, eh?). Other than that, you really can't go wrong (unless you forget to remove your shoes).
