eating etiquette

So at lunch yesterday, we tried unsuccessfully to tip our server. For the second time. The first time we didn't make it out of the restaurant. This time we put the coin on the table and literally ran.

We thought we were in the clear, but the cute waitress who was kind enough to speak perfect English to me and to bring us water when it was clear we weren't drinking the green stuff, came running down the street to catch up to us and return the money.

We're American, so I suppose we think that we can be ignorant and stupid and try to tip. But really, next time you're in Japan, just keep in mind that if you want to tip someone, not only do they consider it rude, but you're going to have to have a seriously quick get-a-way plan. Like your favorite taxi driver waiting with his automatic (yes, they're automatic here) door opened.

But don't worry, if you are indeed in Japan any time soon, you too can order your dinner out of a vending machine (pictured). Simply choose the picture you want, deposit the appropriate amount of money, and give your vending ticket to the server. And wall-ah. Dinner from a vending machine. Makes the whole language barrier thing much easier to cope with.