Top 3 Weird Excuses for Japanese Behavior (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–8 … My Adventures in Japan)

“People who are normally quite gentle and polite engage in rude and vindictive behavior.”

While excuses #2 and #3 are, at first glance, seen to be ludicrous, excuse #1 could be considered valid. 

When asking “Why do the Japanese businessmen and businesswomen typically work 10–12 hours per day?”, there is really no other answer than “This is Japan.”

You’ll have to excuse them

While it’s been years since I left Japan, I still sometimes wonder, “Why do some Japanese people – who are normally quite gentle and reserved and at least superficially polite – engage in condescending, rude, vicious, and vindictive behavior?”    

The only reply I can think of is “That is Japan.”    
But that’s no excuse, is it?      _{(Image source)}

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 3 Disorienting Aspects of Living in Japan

Top 4 Disorienting Aspects of the Japanese Language

Top 3 Worst Ways to Celebrate New Year’s

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}