Why This Topic Landed in Japan
Restaurants and bars in New York complained that visitors during the World Cup often leave without tipping, and some establishments responded by automatically charging gratuities to foreign customers. The story exploded in Japan because it collided two things: Japanese netizens routinely tell foreign visitors to Japan to “do as the locals do,” and now the same logic was being pointed back at Japanese travelers — against a backdrop of broad Japanese irritation with the US tipping system itself.
Key Reaction Themes
- Frustration with the tipping system itself — “Just include it in the price from the start” and complaints that employers offload wages onto customers.
- The “when in Rome” boomerang — Since Japanese people tell foreign visitors to follow Japanese culture, many concede Japanese travelers should pay local tips too.
- Comparing US and Japanese service — Pride that “tip-free Japanese service is better,” tempered by admitting Japan has its own coercive customs like the otoshi cover charge.
What Japanese Netizens Are Saying
World Cup visitors not tipping, and forced gratuities
New York eateries complained that World Cup visitors weren't tipping and reportedly moved to charge gratuities automatically.
🚨🇺🇸 One of the strangest stories from this World Cup. 😳 Restaurants and bars across New York have started complaining about visiting fans, not because of bad behavior, but because many aren't leaving tips after eating or drinking. ✍🏻 In much of the world, tipping is optional Show more
Source: 2ch
Comments:
- "The shop should pay, you trash. What a country — it's like the LDP."
- "An incident that really makes you think about what a tip even is."
- "We don't shoplift, so it all balances out 🥺"
- "Just make it mandatory (price with tip included) from the start — it's needlessly confusing."
- "But you guys are always telling foreigners who come to Japan that if you're in Japan, follow Japanese culture."
- "A tip is what you pay if the service is good, right? You're free not to pay, so you don't have to."
- "They just need to provide service worth tipping for. What are they on about, with service worse than tip-free Japan?"
- "Americans turning into a nation of beggars."
- "Japan has tons of unspoken rules too, so please abolish them — like the system that forces you to order an otoshi appetizer you don't even want."
- "Japanese people constantly tell foreigners “when in Rome,” so in this case, of course Japanese people should pay the tip."