I spent a week in Tokyo at the beginning of the year. I'm glad that I read a lot before I went and picked up a few words. In hotels and restaurants, people will

I spent a week in Tokyo at the beginning of the year. I'm glad that I read a lot before I went and picked up a few words. In hotels and restaurants, people will bend over backwards to help you. Everything they do is based around politeness. Everytime you walk into any kind of store you are greeted, whether a 7-11 or a high end hotel. But things are different. Your waiter doesn't come around to check on you until you specifically call for them. It's considered rude to bother the customer until they signal they need something. When at work or out socially, nearly every situation is governed by "sempai", which is who is senior among us. I went out drinking with 2 guys I met. They both worked as welder, but one was slightly older than the other. The younger one made sure he was always doing what the older one wanted. It wasn't as extreme as it sounds like I'm making it, but it was an under current the entire night.