In west, a hug is considered to be friendly and non-sexual form of affection. But in Japan, and most Asian countries, a hug is considered to be an intimate contact that is reserved for someone who is really close to you.. like your romantic partner or your close family members.
Best not greet a Japanese person by kissing or hugging them (unless you know them extremely well). While Westerners often kiss on the cheek by way of greeting, the Japanese are far more comfortable bowing or shaking hands. In addition, public displays of affection are not good manners.
Displays of Affection in Japan
Asian couples don't usually express affection towards each other in public. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex'such as kissing, hugging and holding hands — are considered rude. Even families rarely touch, hug or display physical affection in public.
It's no secret that Japanese culture is less than ideal for touchy-feely people. The concept of physical contact, “skinship” (a wordplay on “skin” and “kinship”), is known to most but practised by few. To expats coming from cultures where every day physical contact is commonplace, the lack of it can take a heavy toll.
Hugging is not very common in parts of Asia such as China and Vietnam, where the parent-child bond may also lack physical intimacy. Similarly to Arabs, many Asian cultures often view physical contact between unmarried couples or people of opposite sexes as traditionally unacceptable.
A hug is considered improper when: The person feels uncomfortable. The person doesn't want to hug but is forced into the hug. The hug involves a lot of body touching that is uncomfortable for the one being touched.
The researchers found romantic kissing to be the norm in the Middle East, with the practice established in 10 out of 10 cultures studied. In Asia, 73 percent enjoyed romantic kissing; in Europe, 70 percent; and in North America, 55 percent. No smoochers were found in Central America.
What are the common modern Japanese beauty standards? Modern Japanese beauty standards tend toward light, flawless skin, a slim, petite figure, slender legs, and a quiet personality—although those “standards” change over time and may be largely ignored by future generations.
Never hugging or kissing
In Japan, touching another person's body is considered rude, even with friends or family. Hugging and kissing are mostly for couples.
Pointing at people or things is considered rude in Japan. Instead of using a finger to point at something, the Japanese use a hand to gently wave at what they would like to indicate. When referring to themselves, people will use their forefinger to touch their nose instead of pointing at themselves.
It's customary for Japanese women to profess their love through honmei choco, ornate handmade chocolates or expensive boxes of sweets. Women will also, sometimes begrudgingly, gift male coworkers with mini boxes of giri choco, or obligatory chocolates.
“Daisuki desu” means to really like or love something, so this has a similar effect as “suki desu”. For example, if you are confessing your feelings for someone, you might say: Suki desu! Tsukiatte kudasai.
Crossing your legs is considered very casual and improper even if you do your best to cross them tightly and stylishly. Instead, experience the “seiza,” an excruciating form of traditional Japanese sitting (on your knees), invented especially to torture foreigners.
Prolonged eye contact (staring) is considered rude. Don't show affection, such as hugging or shoulder slapping, in public. Never beckon with your forefinger. The Japanese extend their right arm out in front, bending the wrist down, waving fingers.
Pointing. Do not point your finger, feet, or chopsticks at people. If you have to indicate a person, object or direction, wave your fingers with the palm face up in the general direction.
Kansetsu Kiss
It involves an indirect “contact” between two people's mouths, most often as a result of drinking from the same cup or bottle.
Japanese are known to be shy, so once they become a couple, they flirt discreetly when in public. For example, you can see many couples walking hand-in-hand but not kissing much. Most Japanese feel embarrassed even just exchanging a small kiss on the cheek in public.
Although having an hourglass figure is somewhat valued in Japan, a slim figure is generally considered to be better. Clothing varies greatly with trends, but overall, Japanese fashion is fairly conservative.
Yamato nadeshiko (やまとなでしこ or 大和撫子) is a Japanese term meaning the "personification of an idealized Japanese woman", or "the epitome of pure, feminine beauty"; poised, decorous, kind, gentle, graceful, humble, patient, virtuous, respectful, benevolent, honest, charitable, faithful.
Japanese girls like guys with kindly heart who can also read between the lines. Guys who can tell what the conversation partner hopes them to do without words and can respond to him/her look very attractive.
Indeed, some 650m people—or about 10% of the world—don't partake at all. Until contact with the West, for example, kissing wasn't practiced among Somalis, the Lepcha people of Sikkim or Bolivia's indigenous Sirionó.
Love is in the air
No need to wait for the official first date to get a little face time, however. Americans agree kids are ready for their first kiss at age 15 (15.1 on average), while on average, they had theirs at age 14.5.
A body kiss is a way to make your makeout session more intimate or erotic, or it can be a form of foreplay. "You can kiss various body parts like earlobes, sides of necks, insides of wrists, and other hot spots, where blood flow is close to the surface of the skin," Brown-James says.
A hug at the waist
A hug at the waist is indeed one of the most romantic and intimate types of hugs! A hug at the waist brings one partner below the shoulders of the other, down and closer to the stomach during this embrace.