Student Blog

2 min read

A kiss to show respect to elders

Syifa, who has been a fan of Japanese anime and culture since middle school and studied abroad at a high school in Japan, shared with us how people in Indonesia show respect. During her time in Japan, she participated in an English speech contest where she presented on Indonesian culture. Even after entering university, she actively engaged in cultural exchange by showcasing traditional attire at fashion shows and other events.

Syifa taught us about a traditional Indonesian greeting: to show respect to elders such as teachers, parents, older siblings, and other senior figures, Indonesians kiss the back of their right hand. Although I was aware that Indonesia values hierarchical relationships, it seems that their culture of respecting elders is even stronger than in Japan. At home, children kiss their parents’ right hands upon arrival. When arriving at or leaving school, students line up and wait for the teacher to extend their right hand. Even when encountering acquaintances on the street, people greet them with a kiss along with a time-appropriate greeting, such as "Selamat Siang" (Indonesian for "Good afternoon").

Learning about this different way of showing respect to elders has made me even more interested in Indonesian culture.

NURRUSYIFA ALIFIA
(Nickname: SYIFA)
College of Asia Pacific Studies, 3rd year Indonesia

(Published in the morning edition of the Oita Godo Shimbun on February 27, 2024)

Natsuki Aoki

Hello! I'm Natsuki, an APS 3rd year majoring in International Relations. I hope to inspire you all by sharing my interesting experiences, new discoveries, and encounters at APU. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!