Takaichi Greets President at Hotel Entrance... The Story of 'Omotenashi' [Sunday Culture]

A Culture Rooted in the Tea Ceremony... Based on Mutual Respect and Trust
Gained Recognition After the 2013 Tokyo Olympic Bid Speech

Recently, the issue that has heated up both Korea and Japan is undoubtedly the summit meeting. There were many memorable moments, but one that stood out was Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi coming all the way to the front of the hotel to greet President Lee Jae-myung at the start of the meeting. Korean media also widely reported on Prime Minister Takaichi's so-called "Omotenashi diplomacy."

Omotenashi is often explained as "Japanese-style hospitality," "courteous treatment," or "Japan's unique way of welcoming guests." But what exactly does Omotenashi mean, and how did it come to be known as Japan's representative hospitality culture? Today, let's explore the story of Omotenashi.

Yonhap News Agency

A Culture Over 1,000 Years Old... Originating from Tea Ceremony and Etiquette

Omotenashi is said to be a term that began to be used during the Heian period (8th-12th centuries). In "The Tale of Genji," Japan's first full-length novel compiled in the early 11th century, the word "motenasu," the etymological root of Omotenashi, appears.

According to the International Omotenashi Association, the etymology of Omotenashi is as follows. "Motenasu" is a noun form of the Japanese verb "motenasu (もてなす)," and in kanji, it can be split into "mote (持て)" and "nasu (成す)." "Mote" means to hold something in one's hand, and "nasu" means to carry out or accomplish something. In summary, "motenasu" means "to accomplish something using what one has."

So, what does it mean to accomplish something with what one has? It refers to the mindset of valuing the other person. When the honorific prefix "o" is added, which is used to show respect to others, it becomes "Omotenashi."

Image of Omotenashi introduced by the International Omotenashi Association. As a culture based on the tea ceremony, it is presented as a representative image. International Omotenashi Association.

The biggest influence on Omotenashi is said to be the culture of the tea ceremony. Sen no Rikyu, who systematized the Japanese tea ceremony, emphasized the following principles: "Brew tea considering the guest's situation and mood," "Prepare the charcoal in advance so the water boils at the right time," "Serve cool tea in summer and warm tea in winter so the guest feels comfortable," and "Prepare for rain even if it is not forecast, with the mindset of caring for the guest." Prime Minister Takaichi also reportedly made preparations at the hotel, the summit venue, a day before the meeting.

One particularly noteworthy aspect is the teaching that everyone is equal in the space where tea is served. Regardless of status or class, everyone is treated as a guest, laying the foundation for Omotenashi. Thus, Omotenashi is said to be established on mutual respect from an equal footing. While some interpret Omotenashi as a culture where restaurant staff must be excessively deferential or always unconditionally kind, in reality, Omotenashi is not about one-sided giving and receiving, but is fundamentally based on mutual respect.

This is why it is claimed to be distinct from Western "service." Service is something that one party provides unilaterally to the other, and the relationship ends as soon as the payment is made. Omotenashi, however, is said to have a unique aspect of caring about trust and the ongoing relationship with the other party.

Came to Prominence for the 2013 Olympic Bid... Criticism of Overuse

Omotenashi became known internationally in 2013. At that time, Japan was making a presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Tokyo Olympics, and the speaker introduced Omotenashi by saying, "Japanese people help each other and value their guests." The speaker also said, "If you lose something in Tokyo, you will almost always get it back, even if it is cash," and "Tokyo is the safest city in the world for travelers, the streets are clean, and taxi drivers are friendly. You will witness these qualities everywhere." In other words, they linked the advantages of Tokyo being a comfortable city for travelers with Omotenashi.

Hospitality etiquette taught at Omotenashi Academy. It is explained that they teach beautiful manners that help with daily work and customer service. Omotenashi Asia Academy.

Meanwhile, there has also been criticism that the spirit of Omotenashi is being overused. The Japanese business weekly Diamond sharply criticized this, saying, "When faced with difficulties, Japan tends to rely on perseverance instead of finding solutions," and "Combining Omotenashi with tourism was essentially a desperate attempt to showcase a spirit of service during a slump in the tourism industry, and its use for the Olympics and to attract foreign tourists has led to side effects." Diamond also pointed out that Japan is not very good at multilingual hospitality and lacks measures to properly disperse crowds of tourists. In such a situation, using Omotenashi to mean "we will serve you well if you come" without improving the system has contributed to overtourism.

Nevertheless, Omotenashi is still considered an essential virtue in Japanese business, and there are even associations that specialize in it. There are even certification exams to evaluate Omotenashi skills. At Omotenashi Academy, they teach even the proper way to greet others. Looking at this, it seems that Omotenashi has recently evolved into a broader concept of comprehensive hospitality etiquette rather than just a particular spirit.

President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands at the summit venue in Nara Prefecture, Japan, on the 13th. Prime Minister's Official Residence.

In any case, Japan's recent "Omotenashi diplomacy" has become quite a hot topic in both Korea and Japan. Prime Minister Takaichi running out to the hotel entrance and the scene of the two leaders playing drums together drew enthusiastic responses on Japanese social media as well. While some criticize it as mere showmanship, the prevailing sentiment in Japan is that it was both attentive and pleasant toward the other party.

A joint performance scene of President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported by Nippon Television Network Corporation (Nippon TV). Nippon TV.

To conclude, here are some notable reactions from Japanese netizens: "Even if citizens want to get along, if the governments are at odds, the people have no choice but to follow that direction. The leaders becoming closer is a good thing, no matter what." "In unpredictable times like these, it seems that those who dance win." "I think the 'temperature of human relationships' is ultimately what matters in diplomacy. I hope that it will not end as a performance, but will lead to tangible progress on Korea-Japan issues." As Omotenashi is a culture based on mutual respect, it would be great if both countries could continue this gesture of hospitality in the future.