In Japan—especially in Kyoto—I’ve noticed a surprising number of cafés where phone calls are either explicitly prohibited or staff will politely ask you to stop after just a minute, even if there’s no visible sign. Of course, I understand that in Japan, local rules often take precedence over global norms. But honestly, I find this particular policy quite hard to understand.
If it were a book café or a quiet space for reflection, I’d get it. But many of these places are just regular cafés—not Michelin-starred coffee havens—where people come to enjoy time with friends. And yet, while chatting with friends at the table is totally fine, talking on the phone somehow isn’t? It doesn’t make sense to me. Sure, loud phone calls are annoying—but so are loud conversations in general. Why single out phone calls?
I respect Japan’s emphasis on avoiding meiwaku (causing a nuisance), but I can’t help but feel it’s gone a bit too far. This kind of policy seems to reflect a society that’s slowly choking itself with over-politeness, even among Japanese people themselves. Maybe that’s what led to these rules in the first place.
by No-Anybody4864