Discovering Hats, a New Generation Brims With Anxiety Over Etiquette

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703748904575411874109848424.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

by grellas • 16 years ago

9 7 16 years ago

online.wsj.com

nandemo2• 16 years ago

Hats are fairly common among young Japanese nowadays, including ladies. You might still stand out by wearing one, but not too much. I usually wear one myself and I used to worry if I should take it off inside restaurants, but I noticed that nobody else seems to bother.

(Incidentally, I now have an easy opening line: "nice hat", often followed by "thanks, yours too".)

po3• 16 years ago

It's funny, when I wear a hat here in Japan and meet someone, I don't know wether to tip my hat or bow. I usually end up doing both in an awkward hat-taking-off, hide-behind-my-back and bow ceremony. I don't think Japanese natives have that issue because they weren't taught to take off their hat. They just leave it on and bow.

In the west you would probably bow with your hat held over your chest, left arm behind you (like at the end of a theatrical performance), but in Japan your arms should be at your sides or slightly behind you.

nandemo2• 16 years ago

As far as I can remember, the last few times I met Japanese people informally they extended a handshake (I don't know if it's a "foreigners can't possibly know how to bow" or a "I want to speak English/act like a Western" thing). In formal situations I'm not wearing a hat.

po3• 16 years ago

I wear hats all the time, and they are almost never ball caps. I follow pretty traditional hat wearing rules:

Take it off or tip it when you first meet someone.

Take it off if you go inside, especially someone's home.

If you're in the subway or a hallway of a public building or something it's optional.

If in doubt, take it off.

If you're worried about your hair being messed up or that the hat is part of your style, you're too vain. Grow up.

Note that the rules for women are different. Basically pretend the rule is this: wearing a hat is to protect your head from falling water. If you wear it in someone's home, store or restaurant, you're saying "I'm afraid you have a leaky roof." That would be rude so don't do it.

gn• 16 years ago

http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html

pvg• 16 years ago

This has many of the hallmarks of what Jack Shafer at Slate calls 'Bogus Trend of the Week' stories. He's tracked a few dozen over the years -

http://www.slate.com/default.aspx?id=3944&da=&qt=%22...

Discovering Hats, a New Generation Brims With Anxiety Over Etiquette

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