Credits: Social Media
Americans shocked by ‘common’ method of sneezing in Japan
Several non-Japanese TikTok users claim they noticed a common sneezing etiquette in the Asian country while traveling, that drives foreigners “insane.”
There are several things Americans do differently than the rest of the world. They uniquely hold their cutlery and store milk in a fashion that isn’t acceptable in Europe. But they can’t fathom that Japanese, as claimed by some TikTok users, don’t sneeze into their elbow or a handkerchief.
Americans shocked to learn ‘how Japanese sneeze’
Sneeze itself is very unpredictable. But most cultures teach us to cover our mouth and nose while sneezing to avoid the spread of bacteria, and of course for hygiene reasons. Even though PSAs in Japan encourage people to do the same, foreigners have seen a different practice.
American TikTok star Ryan Crouse, living in Tokyo, claims in one of his videos that most Japanese sneeze into bear hands and it’s “common” in their culture. “I don’t know what it really is, but you’ll always see Japanese men when they sneeze, first of all, they sneeze very loudly,” he says, before adding: “And they sneeze into their hands. That is normal here.”
The same emotion is echoed by other TikTok users who have traveled to Japan and noticed that people sneeze into their hands. But Japan Today reports that there are posters across the country that encourage people to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or a handkerchief while sneezing.
Things common in Japan that’s a ‘cultural shock’
Ryan has listed several things done differently in Japan including extensive usage of plastic bags, which is beneficial when carrying stuff in the rain.
He says apartments in Japan, unlike the Americas, aren’t furnished. So when you move into a new place, it’s on the latest tenant to set it up with essentials such as a refrigerator, washing machine, etc.
Another noticeable difference in Eastern culture is people’s preference for bikes. Ryan says it’s so common that you can see people cycling on the sidewalk. However, he hasn’t seen any bike accidents so far.
