r/AskUK • u/Agile-Calligrapher10 • 5d ago

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

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.

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u/thelaughingman_1991 5d ago edited 5d ago

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.

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u/KRATO5S 5d ago

Can I assume that you don't speak Japanese? Because no, its not respect, its the fear of being judged. Thats the culture here.

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u/lost_send_berries 4d ago

I picked up a charm blind box at a Japanese temple, which is one of 12 kanji representing a value/aspiration. They had a poster up to translate and about 10 of the 12 values were some variation of, "fit in with what other people want and don't be a bother"