Japan and Omotenashi

Have you ever heard of omotenashi or omotenashi hospitality?

This term describes a deep hospitality often seen in accommodations, ceremonies, shops, restaurants, etc.

"Omote" means the public face or the image one seeks to show others, and "nashi" means "nothing." Together, these two terms denote hospitality offered from the heart without concealment or pretense.

To better understand where omotenashi stands, let's look at the scale of hospitality.

At the very bottom of the pyramid is morality, standard behaviors that society judges as good or bad. Hospitality at this level is very low.

Next come manners, the standards of good behavior in society.

Then comes service, a standard of good behavior that can be obtained in exchange for monetary consideration.

On the penultimate level is hospitality, a generous treatment or welcome often offered with an expectation of something in return.

At the top of the pyramid is omotenashi, generous behavior without any expectation of return.

This is one of the foundations of the tea ceremony, along with ichigo ichie, the idea that every encounter with a guest is a unique moment that must be honored. The host wants to make the guest feel as important and welcome as possible without expecting any reward.

The tea ceremony truly encompasses all facets of Japanese culture!