444th Deploys To
Kunamoto Japan

Kita-Kumamoto when the 444th met the Japanese public affairs contingent. Fortunately the Japanese team spoke English much better than we spoke Japanese. The New Jersey team fumbled its way through the “How do you do, pleased to meet you” greetings in Japanese that had been learned on the flight over. There was laughter and clapping and the 444th was told that we spoke excellent Japanese, which proved how polite they really were. That is one important point about traveling to Japan. If a traveler make an effort to learn the basic greetings, learn a little bit of Japanese geography and history the trip becomes more meaningful and the Japanese will go that extra mile to help. This also applies to the use of hashi (chopsticks). Just remember that you will be complimented on how skillful you are regardless of your true abilities. 

Japanese military customs are similar to the United States. Japanese enlisted personnel salute their officers, but unlike the U.S. military, Japanese enlisted members also render salutes to each other. Since the JGSDF wear insignia very different from the American Army, U.S. soldiers don’t have to worry about learning to recognize the different insignia. Especially since U.S. military members are expected to salute their Japanese military counterparts of all ranks. As it is here, saluting is usually restricted to out-of-doors. However, unlike any of the American customs, bowing within the military ranks is commonly practiced in addition to the hand salute to extend courtesy and respect from subordinate to superior. You are not expected to know how to bow properly, as it is practiced throughout Japan, but you should know to “bow when bowed to.” Lastly, in Japan, while shaking hands is common between Japanese and Americans, it is not unusual to be performing all three greetings simultaneously trying to honor the Japanese with a bow and they reply with a handshake and then both groups finish with a salute. 

The Japanese public affairs team were polite and generous - especially when it came to giving gifts -omiyagi. This means is that if a person receives a gift, then they are expected to give one back. The downside is that this is not a one-off exchange. Omiyagi is a continual cycle in which both parties give and receive over and over and over... So, to avoid any uncomfortable episodes, wait until just before leaving and spring a present on them. They will surely have one ready and the pressure of a second go-round is relieved (it worked for the 444th). 

After 15 days, the MPAD climbed back on board the commercial
flight for the 15-hour trip back to Philadelphia. There was no question that not only had the 444th improved upon its public affairs training, the detachment had also done its best to improve relations between the Japanese military and the NJARNG.