After a tour in the Pacific, many servicemembers find it difficult to get back into the American...

By T.D. Flack, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Wednesday, July 9, 2008 Stars and Stripes American families in Japan grow accustom to Japanese manners — from taking off their shoes and sitting at a low table on tatami to using chopsticks. Japanese customs Greetings are very formal and ritualized, and it’s important to show the correct amount of respect and deference to someone based upon their status relative to your own. And plan on doing some bowing. The deeper you bow, the more respect you show. Gift-giving is highly ritualistic and meaningful, and the way something is wrapped is just as important as the gift itself. Good quality chocolates or small cakes are good ideas. But lilies, camellias or lotus blossoms are not — they are associated with funerals. When entering a home, remove your shoes before entering and put on... [read full story]