Reading between the coughs I have a bit of an odd and very niche question. Just came back from spending a month in Japan. This time I mainly stayed in big cities, walked around a lot, and noticed a behavior that kept happening again and again. I would love to understand if theres any cultural context to it: I’d be walking down a busy street, keeping to one side of the sidewalk following the flow of people, making sure there was enough space for others to pass by if they were in a hurry or whatever. I walked at the same pace as everyone else and was just enjoying my time. However almost every day and sometimes more than once, a man, usually in a suit, either walking behind me or passing by, would cough in a way that felt very intentional. At first I didn’t pay much attention. Then I started wondering if they were trying to hint at something, so I became more aware of my behavior. At some point I stopped trying to guess. I genuinely had no idea what it was about. It was never a woman and the men would usually cough only when they were near or behind me, stopping when they moved farther away What really made me think this might be some kind of subtle communication was a date I had to try and not participate on in a restaurant (tables are so close to each other in some places ! ). I was sitting next to a couple who seemed to be on a very awkward first date, and the guy would cough repeatedly whenever the conversation stalled until he managed to think of a new topic to bring up. The girl didn’t help him much so there was a lot of nervous coughing all throughout their date. So what do you think ? Am I just overthinking normal flu-season coughing, or is this actually a secret code ? 0 22 r/AskAJapanese 9mo ago neh445 CastleKarnstein • 9mo ago You noticed the coughing because you were already being counted. The men in suits are not sick. They are watchers. The cough is not for you to hear. It is a tool. It pulls breath that does not belong to them. Foreign breath is heavy. It carries jet lag and confusion and awe. That kind of breath has value. They walk close on purpose. One cough opens the way. Another pulls something out. When they pass you, a small part of you stays behind. You do not feel it leave. The awkward date was not awkward. He was harvesting. Silence leaks energy. Discomfort leaks even more. The woman could not hear it. Most people cannot. They take what they gather underground. Old rooms. Old names. Things that learned to pretend they were gods. The coughing keeps those things fed and calm. People who live there call it nothing. Visitors call it coincidence. You felt it because you stayed long enough. If one day the coughing stops all at once on a crowded street, do not turn around. 6 neh445 OP • 9mo ago Love this lol when and where can I get the full book ? 1 herbertlew • 9mo ago Wow op got into your head. What analysis. 0 gachigachi _ • 9mo ago You really need to realize that other people really don't think about you all that much. Especially when they are on awkward first dates with other people. 9 neh445 OP • 9mo ago I think I didn’t explain myself well enough, sorry for that. I’ll try to give a bit more background, but if youve lost interest by now, of course feel free to ignore it. I’m very aware that different cultures have little non verbal communications and am curious about them. Most of the time I understand the meaning from context, but in this case I thought I might be missing something and felt safe to consult with you guys. I understand that you dont think there’s much to it and thats the answer I was looking for. Thanks ! 1 Top _ Connection9079 • 9mo ago I've never experienced this in even 25 years. And I'm tired of the obvious fabrication posts. JAPAN COUGHING Return to Search Results Reading between the coughs : r/AskAJapanese https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAJapanese/comments/1ps8qwu/reading_... 1 of 5 25.09.2026, 21:07 12 neh445 OP • 9mo ago Thank you for your input, I guess im just overthinking things (typical). 2 Master _ Housing5327 • 5mo ago Hey, just saw this post months later. So I've been living in Japan for 8 years now. In the past 3 years I've noticed this trend too. It is termed "wazato seki suru." Which basically means intentional coughing. It's done for multiple reasons. What I and others have been witnessing is a fake and deliberate cough directed at foreigners. It's just xenophobia in this situation. I've even had Japanese friends witness it too, and they've even said they're deeply sorry it happens. People will say your imagining it, but don't second guess it. It's real. I have it happen all the time although I'm polite, friendly, and well-mannered. There is even a cyclist that does it every day that he passes me when I'm walking to work. I would just ignore it. Not everyone in Japan is unfriendly, racist, or xenophobic, but I just wanted to let you know what is happening. 2 neh445 OP • 5mo ago Thank you for the validating answer ! Hope you only meet kind and friendly people from now on:) 1 Master _ Housing5327 • 5mo ago No problem ! I hope you do too :) I had a rough time when I first realized it because I searched online and couldn't find much information on it. Even on Reddit I saw people bring it up and asking about it, people would say they're imagining it or saying they're "crazy" haha. It's a new thing that's been going on, that's all. Sometimes they do it in such an absurd and fake way that everyone around stops and looks at the person doing it. I'm sure it'll become well-known eventually. It made me a bit sad and upset at first but I just remind myself it's only a tiny percentage of people doing it here. I still love Japan. 2 EngineeringExpress79 • 3mo ago So I wasn't crazy either. Im currently in Japan and it happen twice in two days. I would look at them straight behind after they done that and ask if they were okay. And then one guy said in broken english "Uh I amu sorri" Im not american and I am not a visible minority. 2 JapanPizzaNumberOne • 9mo ago They’re actually coughing in Morse Code. 9 roehnin • 9mo ago Dude. Just ... 8 MASHgoBOOM • 9mo ago Not Japanese, but I do this when someone is walking slow and I want to get around them without sidling up silently like a creep. 6 kyute222 • 9mo ago what happened is that you noticed that you stand out visibly from almost everyone around you. it made you acutely aware that you stand out in most crowds and made you think everyone is paying attention to you. so that made you think that any noise and any gesture is aimed towards you. but in reality people probably barely noticed you and nobody coughed to send a secret message. 3 Drakester21 • 9mo ago I think you’re onto something 6 tsian • 9mo ago Damnit, multiple attempts to recruit him to the actual Squid Game in Japan and the dude only realizes once they have left. 6 Drakester21 • 9mo ago Okay, but why was this downvoted 🤣 . I think it’s pretty funny 1 tsian • 9mo ago Return to Search Results Reading between the coughs : r/AskAJapanese https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAJapanese/comments/1ps8qwu/reading_... 2 of 5 25.09.2026, 21:07 People also ask about It happens on Japanese subs in particular. Some people love to show up and downvote, I wouldn't worry about it. (Or the OP just didn't like our responses) 4 Both-Bat-62 • 7mo ago Hey man, you were right about the fake odd coughing thing. Japan is a great country, however some minor weirdoes do exist. Most likely it's a middle aged man who will cough at you because he's stressed and dislikes foreigners. It happened to my friends here as well. You're not imagining things. Just let it go bro. Some of these people have miserable lives with low salaries. 2 Master _ Housing5327 • 5mo ago Glad to see this comment ! I have it happen every day and multiple times haha. I explained in my other comment that I even have a cyclist that passes by me when I'm waking to work on most days. He does it every single time tol. It's pretty funny actually. I'm just glad I have a lot of Japanese friends and I know friendly people out here. Normally if people talk about this stuff they get torn to shreds on Reddit. 1 Both-Bat-62 • 5mo ago No worries, glad to be of help. Reddit is trash bro, people will gaslight you into thinking you're wrong. We are human beings and we can feel when someone is deliberately talking about us or aiming at us. I usually ignore it but one can ignore passive agressive behavior for so long. Here are some of my retorts I cough back 5 time I say bakayaro out loud I instantly turn around to face them and if they get shaken, that's all you need to know bro. 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