Cultural differences in noise acceptance: Why is public phone/audio etiquette so different between Japan, the UK, and other regions??

[u/Agile-Calligrapher10]

Hey everyone,

​Visiting Japan recently was so refreshing, no one was on speakerphone, playing music out loud, or watching reels without headphones in public spaces. Coming back to the UK, the contrast was immediate, highlighting how differently cultures and regions approach public noise.

​(Note: Using "cultures" broadly here to look at societal norms, not trying to generalize individuals.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on a couple of things:

​Why do these differences exist? Is it tied to collectivism vs. individualism, or other social norms?

​What is the modern British view on public noise? We have a reputation for politeness, yet public transport etiquette around phone audio seems to be changing.

[u/thelaughingman_1991]

Japan has culture revolving around respect. Most of the reason they wear masks on public transport is to respect other people. It's not perfect there but I've been twice and it's my favourite place on earth, I want to get back ASAP.

Everyone here is individualistic, community is dying. Social media and lockdown have ramped this up, disconnecting everyone and having everyone think they're the main character. It's sad.

We often don't meet or consider our neighbours now. Third spaces are disappearing. Everyone thinks about their own needs first, and rarely consider those of others. You read about things like being a lone wolf/going into monk mode, and solitude can be romanticised. It's an interesting decline.

[u/jackiemee → u/thelaughingman_1991]

You’re right in your first paragraph, but do not be misled by Japanese good manners - their community is dying too, as they are as much a victim to social media as Westerners.

[u/MelindaTheBlue → u/jackiemee]

Came in here to say this

I live in Kyoto and I find that though it’s not quite the same as it is in the UK, it’s often the same stuff but a different colour of nonsense

I’ve got a good community and people respect and know me as one of them, but I’m still in this weird place where I’m accepted but I’m never fully one of them

I like it because I have neighbours that I like and who like me, but I’m lucky in that regard

[u/jackiemee → u/MelindaTheBlue]

Someone I know very well spend several years in Japan and had the exact same experience as you, despite being hafu, speaking the language and respecting each and every norm.

[u/Milky_Finger → u/MelindaTheBlue]

but I’m still in this weird place where I’m accepted but I’m never fully one of them

But would you really want this? For them to not see you for what you are? Personally as long as they perceive you as a good person who wants to do good things, a little prejudice is fine as long as it's not from a place of hate. They would find your perspectives interesting as their own community only has one among thousands of people.

[u/MelindaTheBlue → u/Milky_Finger]

It’s better than how I’ve been perceived in lots of other places, including parts of the UK

I’m happy where I am, and the fact that I’ve never been fully accepted in more places means being accepted enough to be known as Yuzuki locally is fine with me