Japanese Bowing: Learn the Bowing Culture to Show Respect in Japan

If you've ever watched a Japanese movie or visited Japan, you've probably noticed people bow constantly. Like, all the time. Japanese bowing is way more complex than just dipping your head forward. There are different angles, different speeds, and different meanings depending on the situation. Getting it right when learning Japanese shows respect and cultural awareness, while getting it wrong can be awkward. Here's everything you need to know about when and how to bow in Japan.

What Japanese bowing means

Japanese bowing, called ojigi (), is the primary non-contact form of greeting and communication in Japan.

Unlike a handshake in Western cultures, the bow conveys hierarchy, sincerity, and social awareness.

The depth and duration of your bow communicate your relationship to the other person and the formality of the situation. A quick, shallow bow to a coworker carries a completely different meaning than a deep, prolonged bow to your company's CEO. Japanese culture places huge emphasis on respect and social harmony, and the bow is the physical manifestation of these values.

Here's the thing: bowing in Japan isn't just about politeness. It's about acknowledging the other person's position, showing humility, and maintaining social order. When Japanese people bow to each other, they're participating in a centuries-old tradition that dates back to ancient court rituals and samurai culture.

The main types of bowing in Japan you need to know

There are three primary types of bows used in everyday situations, plus a couple of specialized ones. Each type of bow has a specific angle and purpose.

Eshaku (会釈): The casual 15° bow

Eshaku () is the most common bow you'll use. This is a casual, informal bow at about 15 degrees. You'd use this when:

The eshaku is quick and simple. Just bend forward slightly from the waist, pause for a beat, and straighten up. Your hands should rest naturally at your sides or in front of you if you're holding something. This bow shows basic courtesy without excessive formality.

Keirei (敬礼): The standard respectful bow

Keirei () is your go-to bow for most formal situations. This bow is at about 30 degrees and lasts a bit longer than the eshaku. Use this when:

The keirei strikes the balance between casual and deeply formal. It shows genuine respect and attention. When you perform a keirei, pause at the bottom of the bow for about two seconds before rising. This demonstrates sincerity rather than just going through the motions.

Saikeirei (最敬礼): The deep formal bow

Saikeirei () is the deepest standard bow at 45 degrees or more. This is reserved for very formal situations like:

The saikeirei requires you to bend deeply from the waist and hold the position for three to four seconds. This bow communicates profound respect, serious apology, or deep gratitude. You won't use this one often, but when you do, it carries serious weight.

Dogeza (土下座): The extreme apology bow

Dogeza () is the most extreme form of bowing where you kneel on the ground and place your forehead to the floor. This bow expresses extreme apology, desperation, or begging for forgiveness. In modern Japan, dogeza is pretty rare and usually only appears in situations of serious wrongdoing or in dramatic TV shows.

You probably won't need to perform dogeza as a foreigner, and honestly, doing it inappropriately could make things more awkward. Just know it exists and what it means if you see it.

How to bow properly: The technique breakdown

Getting your bow technique right matters more than you'd think. A sloppy bow can undermine your message, while a crisp, proper bow shows you've taken the time to learn Japanese etiquette.

Your posture and stance

Start with your feet together or slightly apart (Shoulder-width maximum). Stand up straight with your back aligned. Your posture should be natural but attentive. Slouching before you even bow sends the wrong message.

Keep your arms straight and hands either at your sides or clasped gently in front of you. Men typically keep their hands at their sides, while women often place their hands together in front of their thighs. There's some flexibility here, but avoid letting your arms hang loosely or swing around.

The bow movement

When you're ready to bow, bend from your waist, keeping your back straight. Your upper body moves as one unit. Don't just drop your head forward or hunch your shoulders. The bow should be a clean, controlled movement.

As you bow, exhale naturally. This helps you relax and makes the movement smoother. Inhale as you return to standing. The breathing rhythm keeps your bow from looking stiff or mechanical.

The speed matters too. Don't rush through it like you're late for a train. Lower yourself at a steady pace, pause at the bottom, and rise at the same controlled speed. Quick, jerky bows look insincere or nervous.

The eye contact question

Should you maintain eye contact while bowing? Nope. When you bow in Japan, your eyes should follow your upper body downward. Looking at the floor during the bow is correct. Trying to maintain eye contact while bowing looks weird and defeats the purpose of showing humility.

That said, make eye contact before you bow and after you rise. This shows you're engaged and acknowledging the other person. The sequence goes: make eye contact, bow (Eyes down), rise, make eye contact again.

Seated bowing from seiza

Sometimes you'll need to bow while seated on the floor in seiza () position. Seiza means sitting on your knees with your legs folded beneath you.

To bow from seiza, place your hands on the floor in front of you and lower your upper body forward, bringing your forehead toward the floor.

The depth of a seated bow varies just like standing bows. A slight forward lean with hands on your knees is casual. Placing your hands on the floor and bowing deeply is formal. The deepest seated bow has your forehead nearly touching the floor between your hands.

What's the difference between seiza and dogeza? Seiza is just the sitting position itself. Dogeza is the extreme apology bow performed from that position where your forehead actually touches the floor. You can sit in seiza without performing dogeza.

When to bow in Japanese bowing culture: Specific situations

Knowing when to bow is just as important as knowing how. Here are the most common situations where you'll need to bow.

Greetings and introductions

Every greeting in Japan involves a bow. When you meet someone, you bow while saying "hajimemashite" (はじめまして) if it's the first time, or "ohayou gozaimasu" (おはようございます) in the morning, "konnichiwa" (こんにちは) during the day, or "konbanwa" (こんばんは) in the evening.

For casual acquaintances, an eshaku works fine. For business introductions or meeting someone senior, use a keirei. The person of lower status should bow slightly deeper and hold the bow a bit longer.

Expressing gratitude

When someone helps you out or gives you something, bow while saying "arigatou gozaimasu" (ありがとうございます). The depth depends on the favor. Thanking a friend for lending you a pen gets an eshaku. Thanking your boss for approving your vacation gets a keirei. Expressing gratitude for a major favor or gift might call for a saikeirei.

Apologizing

Apologies always require a bow. The seriousness of your mistake determines the depth. Bumping into someone on the train gets a quick eshaku with "sumimasen" (すみません). Apologizing for being late to a meeting requires a keirei with "moushiwake arimasen" (). Serious professional mistakes might require a saikeirei.

Saying goodbye

Farewells involve bowing too. When leaving someone's home, office, or store, bow and say "shitsurei shimasu" () or "sayounara" (さようなら). The formality of the situation dictates the bow depth, but most farewells use an eshaku or keirei.

Business etiquette and professional settings

Business settings in Japan take bowing seriously. When meeting clients, bow at the beginning and end of the meeting. When presenting your business card (meishi), bow as you offer and receive cards. When your boss enters the room, people typically bow from their seats or stand and bow.

In formal situations, you might exchange multiple bows. The person of lower status bows first and deeper. The senior person returns the bow. Sometimes there's a back-and-forth where both parties bow again. Don't stress too much about this as a foreigner, but be aware it happens.

Common mistakes foreigners make

Even with good intentions, foreigners learning to bow often make these mistakes:

Tips for foreigners learning how Japanese people bow

As a foreigner, you're not expected to be perfect at bowing. Japanese people generally appreciate the effort and understand you're learning their etiquette. That said, here's how to get comfortable with it:

Anyway, if you're learning Japanese and want to understand the culture better, Migaku's browser extension and app help you learn from real Japanese content like shows, articles, and videos. You can look up words instantly and build your vocabulary while seeing how people actually use the language. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

Feel confident in your bowing technique now?

The more you practice and observe, the more natural bowing will become. You'll start to feel when a situation calls for a deeper bow or when a quick eshaku is enough. You'll develop a sense for the rhythm and timing. Eventually, you might find yourself bowing without even thinking about it. Additionally, when you're learning how to bow via Japanese videos, you can pick up how they greet each other as well!

Politeness shows dignity.