In Japan, showing your teeth is seen as a sign of disrespect or aggression, so it is important to understand the cultural context behind this act and how it can be interpreted in Japanese society. Generally speaking, smiling politely with closed lips may still be seen as somewhat disrespectful depending on the context but won’t be viewed negatively by most people if done respectfully and appropriately. Grinning widely with exposed teeth may not always go down well depending on who you are dealing with at any given time, so extra care should be taken when deciding whether or not it would be appropriate/acceptable for you to do so. Understanding cultural context behind acts like these can help us avoid embarrassing ourselves while travelling abroad – especially when visiting countries like Japan where etiquette plays an important role in everyday life.