What’s wrong with a little barbeque? Nothing! At least for most people. However, a recent viral thread on a Chinese social media site had a Chinese resident of Japan scratching their head wondering what they’d done wrong.
The story from Record China details a Chinese national’s video post to the social media service Xiaohongshu, or RED. The poster, a resident of Japan, said they invited some friends over for a barbeque in their garden.
During the event, however, a patrol car rolled up.
Cops explained to the man that their neighbor complained about the BBQ, saying the smoke and smell were intolerable. The neighbor further contended that the smoke would adversely impact their small dog.
The poster says the cops made it clear they hadn’t violated any laws or ordinances. However, police urged them to “cooperate” with their neighbor to keep the peace.
What would YOU do?
When the poster asked what others would do, they got a variety of responses. Some people were defiant, urging OP to BBQ harder. “You should tell her raising a dog hurts YOUR feelings,” one fumed.
Others said the neighbors had a right to complain. “You’d get complaints in China, too,” one countered. “You have to work things out when you live in a country with different customs,” another argued. Another suggested taking some BBQ over to the neighbors as a way of making amends.
Comments on social media site X – which are, predictably, full of right-wing, anti-foreigner sentiment – overwhelmingly side with the second group. While it may not be illegal to have a BBQ in your own yard, most acknowledged, sending smoke wafting into your neighbor’s yard is ill-mannered, as Japan has limited space and most houses are very close together.
Other sites in Japan seem to agree, warning that backyard BBQing can cause trouble for one’s neighbors. Some warn you could even be sued for damages. Which would explain why most people in Japan save BBQing for outdoor camping trips.
As an American – i.e., someone from a hardcore backyard BBQ culture – I can sympathize with the subject in this story. Until reading this, I wouldn’t have given a second thought about BBQing on my own property. One to grow on.
This is just one of those little culture shocks and differences in manners that’s bound to trip you up when you move to a new country. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep in mind: just because something isn’t illegal doesn’t mean it’s not gonna piss people off.
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