Tipping Research Paper

Tipping in Japan: Yes, it exists and it’s confusing

Flipping through any travel guide about Japan, you will learn that Japan is a country where tipping is non-existent. Leaving your change on the table at a restaurant may result in the waiter chasing you down to give it back.

But in Japan there actually is a system of tipping that exists but is tangled in a mysterious system of formality that no one really seems sure of. In an interview with Yahoo! Japan, Nobuko Akashi of the Japan Manners & Protocol Association attempts to unravel this system so we can all know when and where it’s appropriate to tip in Japan.

The custom of giving tips in Japan is known as “kokorozuke.” It’s rather well known that giving this to the “nakai-san” (staff) of a

On the other hand, ‘kokorozuke’ is given as a kind of greeting. It’s as if to say ‘thank you in advance for today.’ As such it’s given before the service.”

In addition to at the ryokan, wedding ceremonies and receptions are common times to give gifts of money to staff as well as the newlyweds. But how you do it is important too. Gifts of money to a couple on their wedding day are traditionally “wrapped” in a special envelope called a

For example, some people might give an “orei” to the doctor treating a relative who is seriously ill. However, this could be taken the wrong way and is not advised.

Also, tipping the staff of an unfortunate event such as a funeral is best done afterward as an “orei.”

Confused yet? Well, Akashi has a few more scenarios to throw on the seemingly random pile.

“Giving ‘kokorozuke’ is governed by convention and unwritten rules, so it’s really difficult to know when and when not to do it. For example, I think tipping the movers is no problem. Also, when having an event like a class reunion where you rent out an entire restaurant would warrant ‘kokorozuke’ as a way of saying, ‘Sorry, we’re a huge inconvenience, but thank you.’ It should be given to the place’s manager before the event. Giving ‘kokorozuke’ to the party organizer is a good idea too.”

The good news for those of you visiting Japan is that you probably won’t get embroiled in weddings, funerals, and/or class reunions, so you won’t have think about this. For those living here, welcome to a confusing etiquette system than even Japanese people aren’t 100% sure about but have to deal