How to Be Hospitable: The Japanese Lesson of Omotenashi

Japan, though expensive and arduous to reach, has become one of the trendiest global tourism destinations. The country attracts Italians in particular, and not only for its beauty, for its incredible mix of pristine nature and exciting metropolises. for the charm of its spiritual posture, with a density of temples and sanctuaries that is not found even in India and China. But if you're even thinking of getting closer to the Japanese magnet, try to do so by delving into a key word of their culture, which is crucial to deciphering the mystery of the innate kindness of these people and also of a hospitality that is unmatched in any other country in the world: omotenashi (the literal translation is: to welcome with heart).

The omotenashi It is much more than a handbook of good manners, education, sobriety, hospitality: it is a lifestyle, based on kindness, And a philosophy of hospitality, which inextricably combines form and substance. Polite manners (form), from how you greet and welcome someone (whether a tourist or a resident makes no difference) with a simple bow and extreme courtesy, to how you don't raise your voice when speaking, and at the same time, a kind, sincere, and honest demeanor (substance).

Forget about traveling to restaurants serving great sushi and sashimi! Or searching for the imaginary geisha, who in reality isn't the Eastern equivalent of our escorts, but rather a woman who grew up cultivating her artistic talent and studying the best techniques for entertaining guests. Japan should be explored and visited at least once in a lifetime for the valuable lesson it provides everyone, and Italians in particular, on how to behave in the world and how to welcome guests and visitors with due respect. in the era ofovertourism, the waste par excellence which brings about the beauties of a place by suffocating it in the grip of the crowds of people who arrive and become the cross and the delight of the residents, partly enriched by the travel industry and partly massacred by the invasions of tourists. 

Tokyo is a metropolis of 37,4 million inhabitants, Every day, they must cope with the oceanic crowds of visitors (many from all over Japan), now universally considered the most civilized capital in the world. A city where you can wander day and night without being bothered by vendors of any kind. Where taxi drivers greet you not with the arrogance and cunning to which we Westerners have become accustomed, but with extreme courtesy, punctuality, and meticulous service. Where if you enter a bar, a restaurant, or a shop, you will not be welcomed. byabuse of the informal form, not friendly and confidential, but simply rude, according to the new trend of hospitality made in Italy. 

In Japan, no one dreams (exceptions are merely confirmations of the rule) of deceiving guests, whether tourists or residents, with small or large commercial scams or with disrespectful treatment. Everyone, even due to the complexity of the language and logistics, use Google Maps or something similar, but rest assured that if you need assistance getting somewhere, and you're lost, there will be someone who will have the kind courtesy not only to show you the right way, but even to personally accompany you to places you would never have reached on your own.

The omotenashi can teach us many things, without using the stinging pulpit of those who want to give lessons in good manners, but with the breath of day lightness of a naturally, we might say, instinctively kind lifestyle. This is no small thing, given that kindness has disappeared from the lexicon of our human and social relationships. This philosophy of hospitality It becomes a value, a compass, in the shipwreck we have ended up in, submerged by the waves of a global mobility that risks distorting places, even the most beautiful and fascinating, to the point of making them unlivable. The omotenashi, By making no distinction between residents and visitors, it demonstrates how being hospitable, cordial, and respectful of others also helps us live better, together, in large numbers. Japanese culture teaches us a language, even in the sober, elegant, and slow movements of the body, which we have forgotten, becoming illiterate in civil coexistence: the dictionary of an authentic education, which is never just form, but also substance. It's not just a bow or a kiss on the hand, but relating to others with fairness, without cultivating the presupposition of cheating or even just deceiving the unfortunate person on duty. The philosophy of the omotenashi It is constantly updated, as befits an etiquette that strives to keep pace with changes in customs and lifestyles, starting with those dictated by the invasion of technology. We Westerners are prisoners of our electronic devices 24/7, unable to detach ourselves from them even for a moment of intimacy (when we're at the table with family or friends, during a conversation, when we're concentrating on making a decision). While in Japan you will never be bothered by a Japanese person talking loudly on their cell phone while on a train, bus, or subway: cell phones are turned off, or strictly silenced, when traveling on any public transport. A gesture inspired, once again, by kindness, good manners, and respect for others.

The omotenashi It tells us how simple, natural, and effective caring for others can be, starting with small gestures, small attentions. From those things that help us overcome the virus of indifference, which we often suffer from without even realizing it. But only through a series of bad daily habits. 

Cover image source: tokhimo.com

Read also:

• Municipalities that have a Councillor for Kindness
• “Kindness is the strong chain that binds men together” (Johann Wolfgang Goethe)
• How to teach kindness to children
• Be Kind: The Kindness Bar in Cattolica