Title: A Guide to Using Important Japanese Gestures Properly
Headings: Important Japanese Gestures and How to Do Them Properly
Important Japanese Gestures and How to Do Them Properly
The Right Way to Sit on a Tatami Mat and Other Tips
The Proper Way to Sit on Tatami
The Right Way to Beckon in Japan
How to Indicate Yourself ("Who, Me?")
Banzai

Content: The Proper Way to Sit on Tatami
The Japanese have traditionally sat on tatami (a padded straw mat) at their homes. However, many homes today are completely Western in style and don't have Japanese style rooms with tatami. Many young Japanese are no longer able to sit properly on a tatami. The proper way of sitting on tatami is called seiza. Seiza requires that one bends the knees 180 degrees, tuck your calves under your thighs and sit on your heels. This can be a difficult posture to maintain if you are not used to it. This sitting posture requires practice, preferably from an early age. It is considered polite to sit seiza-style on formal occasions. Another more relaxed way of sitting on tatami is cross-legged (agura). Starting with legs out straight and folding them in like triangles.