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 hottest issue between South Korea and Japan has undoubtedly been the summit meeting. There were many memorable moments, but what stood out was Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi coming out to the front of the hotel to greet President Lee Jaemyung at the very start of the summit. Korean media also widely reported on this, using headlines such as "Omotenashi Diplomacy of Prime Minister Takaichi."

Omotenashi is often explained as "Japanese-style hospitality," "sincere hospitality," or "Japan's unique way of welcoming guests." But what exactly does omotenashi mean, and how did it become known as Japan's representative hospitality culture? Today, we will explore the story of omotenashi.

Yonhap News Agency

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

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

According to the International Omotenashi Association, the etymology of omotenashi is as follows. "Motenasu" is a Japanese verb that has been nominalized, and in kanji, it can be split into "mote" (to hold something) and "nasu" (to perform or accomplish something). Combined, "motenasu" means "to accomplish something using what one has."

So, what does it mean to accomplish something with what you have? It refers to the mindset of valuing the other person. When the honorific prefix "o" is added, 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 tea ceremony culture is said to have had the greatest influence on omotenashi. Sen no Rikyu, who systematized the Japanese tea ceremony, emphasized the following principles: "Brew tea with consideration for 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 that guests feel comfortable," and "Prepare with the mindset of serving the guest, even if it does not rain, always be ready for it." Prime Minister Takaichi reportedly prepared for the summit at the hotel a day in advance as well.

One particularly noteworthy aspect is the teaching that everyone in the tea room is equal. Regardless of status or class, everyone is treated as an equal guest-this forms the foundation of omotenashi. Therefore, omotenashi is only possible when there is mutual respect and equality. While some interpret omotenashi as a culture where workers in restaurants must bow deeply or always be unfailingly polite, in reality, omotenashi is not about a one-sided relationship; it is fundamentally based on mutual respect.

This is why it is claimed to be different from "service" in the Western sense. Service is something provided unilaterally by one party, and the relationship ends once payment is made. However, omotenashi is said to involve unique aspects such as building trust and valuing connections with others.

Came to the Forefront for the 2013 Olympic Bid... Criticisms of Overuse

Omotenashi became internationally known in 2013. At the time, Japan introduced the concept during a speech at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) while bidding for the Tokyo Olympics. The speaker explained, "Japanese people help each other and value their guests," introducing omotenashi. They added, "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, taxi drivers are kind, and you will witness these qualities everywhere." In other words, they linked the convenience of traveling in Japan 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, some have criticized that the spirit of omotenashi is being overused. The Japanese economic weekly Diamond wrote, "Japan tends to overcome difficulties with spirit rather than finding solutions to problems," and "connecting omotenashi with tourism was essentially an appeal to work with determination when the tourism industry was struggling, but as it was used for the Olympics and attracting foreign tourists, it resulted in side effects." Diamond also pointed out that Japan is not very good at multilingual hospitality and lacks measures to disperse crowds of tourists. Despite this, omotenashi was used to mean "we will serve you well if you come," contributing to overtourism without improving the system.

Nevertheless, omotenashi is still considered an essential virtue in Japanese business, and there are even associations specializing in it. There are also certification exams to evaluate omotenashi skills. At the Omotenashi Academy, even the proper way to greet others is taught. Looking at this, it seems that omotenashi has recently evolved from a certain spirit to a broader concept encompassing comprehensive hospitality etiquette.

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 "omotenashi diplomacy" has become quite a hot topic in both South Korea and Japan. Prime Minister Takaichi running out to the hotel entrance and the scene of the two leaders performing a drum duet drew enthusiastic responses on Japanese social media. While some criticized it as mere showmanship, most reactions in Japan focused on the attentive and pleasant nature of the gestures.

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 noteworthy reactions from Japanese netizens: "Even if people want to get along, if the government takes a confrontational stance, the public will inevitably follow. It's always good for leaders to become closer," "In unpredictable times like these, it seems those who dance win," and "In the end, diplomacy is about the 'temperature of human relationships.' I hope it doesn't end as mere performance, but leads to tangible progress on Korea-Japan issues." Hopefully, as omotenashi is a culture based on mutual respect, these gestures of hospitality will continue between the two countries in the future.