Food servers and taxi drivers in Japan REFUSE TIPS from their customers. Why is that?

Because most japanese make higher salaries than western people, and even waitresses in japan make more money than their foreign counterparts. It's a very wealthy country.

Never heard that. In fact, I just let the taxi driver last night keep the change.In general, receiving tips is discouraged in Japan and as people know, people conform in Japan. If any manager discovers someone on the staff accepting a tip, I could imagine the employee will be reprimanded.

So to save them the embarrassment, it's best not to tip. Taxi drivers may be an exception because they are basically self-employed. The money they can receive is the money they get.

1 They aren't acting, they ARE insulted. The Japanese people pride themselves on doing the best job they can as a matter of "face", and to offer them money , to them, is implying that they only do a good job in the hopes of getting extra pay. Also,to offer 'bare money' , like just leaving it on the table, rather than wrapping it in a napkin or piece of cloth is VERY rude to them.

I have found it to be helpful to do a little research on the habits and practices of the country I am visiting, to avoid adding to the legend of the "ugly American".

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.