I have been puzzled by the way that different cultures approach service workers’ pay ever since I was involved in an awkward stand-off over a tip with a taxi driver during my first trip to Tokyo.
“No tip necessary, no tip necessary,” the driver kept saying in broken English. But I continued on bullheaded: “No please, please, do take this.” In the background my husband was shaking his head, as a small scene developed at the hotel doorway. He had, of course, warned me this could happen. “I told you so!” he snarked, as I finally conceded.
I was clueless to the fact that in Japan tipping is considered an insult. The price is the price. I had stupidly tried to force some yen into the taxi driver’s hand.