D
17

The toast at my cousin's wedding in Osaka broke every rule I knew

I grew up in Texas where you clink glasses and shout 'cheers' at weddings. Last month at my cousin's wedding in Osaka, I raised my glass to make a toast and my Japanese aunt grabbed my arm. She whispered that you never clink glasses with someone older, and you pour their drink first before your own. I had done exactly the opposite for the whole dinner. It hit me that I'd been treating a Japanese custom like an American one, and the older guests were too polite to say anything. Has anyone else blended into a culture and only found out hours later that you were doing it all wrong?
0 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
0 Comments

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts on this discussion.