Japanese hand gestures

[Reavyn]

I was wondering, besides the peace sign, what are some other commonly used hand gestures among Japan?

I've seen the putting of the thumbs against your temple with your hands facing out and doing kind of like a wave thing, though I'm not sure what it means...a teasing gesture of some sort?

[Nagoyankee]

The little finger can mean a "girlfriend" or "mistress".

Watch this commercial for "Paipo", the plastic pipe to aide you in stop smoking.

Fist guy says "I was able to quit smoking because of this." The second guy follows with the same line. The third guy shows his pinky and says "I had to quit my company because of a woman."

[MMM]

To call someone over you will see people do the "come here" gesture (curling fingers toward body) but in Japan it is not done palm up, but palm down.

[MissMisa]

Originally Posted by MMM

To call someone over you will see people do the "come here" gesture (curling fingers toward body) but in Japan it is not done palm up, but palm down.

That sounds familiar, I think I've seen it somewhere, perhaps on TV or something.

Interesting stuff~

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

The little finger can mean a "girlfriend" or "mistress".

Watch this commercial for "Paipo", the plastic pipe to aide you in stop smoking.

Fist guy says "I was able to quit smoking because of this." The second guy follows with the same line. The third guy shows his pinky and says "I had to quit my company because of a woman."

In contrast, the thumb can mean "boyfriend", but both of these gestures are more used by older men than they are by the younger generation.

The OK sign with the palm facing the chest instead of facing out can mean "money", but if held too close to the crotch the meaning changes to "condom".

If you hold your hand with your fingers together pointed upward next to your ear and then spread your fingers as you raise your hand up slightly (like if you wanted to imitate fireworks with your fingers) it means "PA" which means "empty-headed". Like whoever you are talking about's brains disappeared in a flash.

Making an X with your index fingers tells a waiter or waitress you are ready for your bill.

[Reavyn]

Originally Posted by MMM

If you hold your hand with your fingers together pointed upward next to your ear and then spread your fingers as you raise your hand up slightly (like if you wanted to imitate fireworks with your fingers) it means "PA" which means "empty-headed". Like whoever you are talking about's brains disappeared in a flash.

..as I was typing the fact that I've seen this gesture in a music video, I remembered which video... Papancake by Kusumi Koharu...and now I can't get it out of my head....

[SaintKat]

Hey that's neat MMM I didn't know all that. Learn something new (and useful) every day .

[Jaydelart]

Originally Posted by MMM

To call someone over you will see people do the "come here" gesture (curling fingers toward body) but in Japan it is not done palm up, but palm down.

I describe it as the "shoo" gesture, just with... another meaning.

[mandalina]

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[SHAD0W]

Interesting stuff. Also, in pokemon, the ghost's you encounter in red version are doing the hand gesture for ghost lol