It is common knowledge that bowing is customary in Japan. Japanese bowing at any place and any time is often a source of amusement for foreigners.

While Westerners typically offer their hands when they want to show warmth or sincerity, the Japanese preference is to bow from the waist in a gesture of silent respect. Without saying a word, a bow can convey a salutation, a good-bye, or an expression of thanks.

The bow, as taught by the Ogasawara school of etiquette, had derived from the traditions of the warrior class, which originally applied to the manner of bowing when properly seated on a tatami mat. There are numerous variations of the bow, each of which applies to a specific set of circumstances. For instance, the correct depth of the bow varies according to the level of respect and one's sex of whom you're greeting and this must also be taken into consideration. If from the proper sitting positions on tatami mats, you bend your upper body forward with back straight, your arms will naturally come forward and the tips of your fingers will meet on the floor. The space between your hands should be about the size of a fist, and the distance between your head and the floor should be about twenty centimeters. This is a general bow which is appropriate in most cases. The key point to remember is that the waist is a pivot from which the upper body should extend like a rigid beam.

Breathing is also important, and the accepted technique is called reisansoke (the three breath method). You should breath in while bending forward, exhale when you come to a stop, and inhale once more as you return to your initial posture. If you breathe in this way, the bank will stretch naturally and the motion of your head will draw a smooth arc, both essential elements of an attractive and sincere bow.

The standing bow is divided into three types: the shallow bow, the ordinary bow, and the politest bow. The only significant difference among them is the angle , which increases according to the level of respect to be shown. In most cases you will use the ordinary bow, which should be 45 degrees. The 15 degrees shallow bow is made only toward those with whom one is quite familiar, and the 90-degree politest bow is reserved for ceremonial occasions such as a visit to a shrine or Buddhist temple.

Let your hands hang down naturally. Without any conscious effort you should stand up straight naturally. Bend forward, with the head and back in a straight line, to a depth appropriate for the occasion. As with seated bows, the three-steps breathing method should be followed.

Whether seated or standing, beautiful bow is defined by the manner in how it is completed. The upper body should be raised as slowly as possible, calmly and in harmony with the motion of other party.

In olden times the Ogasawara school had an "agreement" that seated bows would be made silently, and only after both parties removed their fans and places them in front of their knees. After completing the bow the fans were worn again.

Today it is not necessary to be so polite. Still, it is not possible to convey the respect and appreciation in one's heart unless you express it in an acceptable way. The neglect of the bow marks a general decline in the etiquette of today's Japanese. Imagine if a person said, "I share your grief," while standing with his hands in his pockets. Certainly, his sentiments would not be judged sincere. In order to truly make your heart known, you should bow with the back kept straight. True respect begins with this gesture.