Is giving up your seat always the right thing to do? Japan’s “seat-offering techniques” – timing it right is key to being polite

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Compiled by staff



A woman in Taichung recently took a BRT ride and sat in a priority seat because she wasn’t feeling well due to her period. An elderly man saw this and started scolding her, sparking heated online discussion. The original good intention behind priority seating seems to have been misunderstood. While “offering your seat” is considered basic etiquette in Taiwan, in Japan – a favorite destination for Taiwanese travelers – offering a seat isn’t so straightforward. It even requires certain skills to do it politely while also considering the other person’s feelings and successfully giving up your seat.

▲ What should you do if you encounter someone who needs a seat on the train? In Japan, offering your seat randomly can actually be quite rude. (Photo / Reported by You Tzu-ju)

“It’s hard to say when you should offer your seat, because some people don’t think of themselves as old,” said Chung Chih-fang, vice president of J&T CONTENTS, who has lived and been educated in Japan for many years. “Some people think that those over 60 deserve to be offered a seat, but for others, being over 60 doesn’t make you ‘elderly,’ so they don’t need one. And some elders may actually feel uncomfortable when offered a seat. When you’re on the train and you think someone might need a seat but aren’t sure how to offer yours, you can tell them: ‘I’m getting off at the next stop, so please take this seat.’”

“Because they don’t want to cause trouble for others, most Japanese elders won’t accept your kindness.” In such situations, the person offering the seat can get off at the next stop and move to another car, to avoid making the other person feel awkward. “If you offer your seat and then remain standing, the other person will also feel very uncomfortable,” Chung Chih-fang explained. “In Japan, when you try to offer your seat to someone in need and use this method, only then can both sides feel comfortable, and no one ends up feeling bad!”
Japan’s seat-offering culture is indeed different from Taiwan’s, but no matter how you go about offering your seat, aside from visible cues that help others judge your intentions, there are also many passengers with “hidden needs” who deserve attention. Showing appropriate concern and maintaining a polite attitude are what demonstrate basic civic etiquette, whether in Taiwan or Japan.

Seat-offering techniques when riding trains in Japan
STEP 1: If you see an elderly person on the train who might need a seat, observe first to determine whether offering your seat might hurt their feelings.
STEP 2: If you decide to offer your seat, stand up and tidy up your bag or hair, giving off the impression that “you’re about to get off anyway.”
STEP 3: Tell the person, “I’m getting off at the next stop, so you can take this seat.”
STEP 4: Exit the train car coolly. Be careful to step into the next car before the doors close, so you don’t get left behind.