yeah, that was the 1st thing to strike me too, taking the shoes off when sitting on a boardwalk type of thing. fascinating how Japanese people take off their shoes almost everywhere, and I cannot get the people take come into my house to take theirs off!!! they actually look offended when asked, seriously!
That’s one of the little things I like about cherry blossom season, seeing all the shoes neatly lined up around the picnic mat. It always fascinates me.
Definitely with you on the house thing. After living here for so long, going into someones house with my shoes on just seems wrong. As does seeing others walk about their house in outdoor shoes.
From a Western p.o.v. unless asked to remove your shoes (in which case one should) doing so could be percieved as making yourself too comfortable in someone else’s home. Additionally, a person could feel vulnerable without their shoes. I rarely wear mine especially in my own house for comfort reasons. I inform guests that they can if they want to, but it’s not a requirement. Unless they’re muddy. In that case, thankfully, they usually take them off automatically at the door.
Depends which part of the ‘Western’ p.o.v. we’re talking. Here in Finland it’s the same as in Japan, when you go in you take your shoes off, doesn’t matter whether it’s your own home or someone elses.
Especially with your shoes off. He looks fully engrossed in his book.
He was. His only movement was to turn the page.
yeah, that was the 1st thing to strike me too, taking the shoes off when sitting on a boardwalk type of thing. fascinating how Japanese people take off their shoes almost everywhere, and I cannot get the people take come into my house to take theirs off!!! they actually look offended when asked, seriously!
That’s one of the little things I like about cherry blossom season, seeing all the shoes neatly lined up around the picnic mat. It always fascinates me.
Definitely with you on the house thing. After living here for so long, going into someones house with my shoes on just seems wrong. As does seeing others walk about their house in outdoor shoes.
From a Western p.o.v. unless asked to remove your shoes (in which case one should) doing so could be percieved as making yourself too comfortable in someone else’s home. Additionally, a person could feel vulnerable without their shoes. I rarely wear mine especially in my own house for comfort reasons. I inform guests that they can if they want to, but it’s not a requirement. Unless they’re muddy. In that case, thankfully, they usually take them off automatically at the door.
That’s interesting Lizzy, I hadn’t thought of it like that. Fascinating how the same gesture can be viewed so differently.
Depends which part of the ‘Western’ p.o.v. we’re talking. Here in Finland it’s the same as in Japan, when you go in you take your shoes off, doesn’t matter whether it’s your own home or someone elses.
In Britain it’s a mixed bag. At least from my (now rather limited experience) experience.