It's always interesting to observe the differences between cultures. Everything from food, to customs, to the language can be markedly different. One differe...
There is a large cultural gap between America and Japan in terms of style of greetings. In Japanese culture, the polite form of a greeting is the Ojigi (or simply bowing). Based on the degree at which you bow you display a different sentiment or emotion. For example, if you were to bow a complete 90 degrees you would be effectively communicating that you are extremely sorry or extremely thankful. There is no body contact whatsoever in a Japanese style greeting. In comparison, the American style of greeting varies greatly and there are many different types and style. The most common would be the handshake. The handshake is extremely important and in some cases people will judge your personality based on your handshake. You want to make sure its a firm, but not too strong handshake. Another type of greeting amongst friends is a simple hug, which shows that you know the person and are comfortable with them. Another style is a wave or a head nod. This is probably the only non-touching greeting that Americans use.