
Tipping is almost strictly American though. Or at least provided to more services in America.
Other countries actually give waiters/waitresses decent pay.

I think, as someone mentioned before, this is a more common practice in US because US doesn't have GST. But Japan does have GST, so service charge should already be included in the bill

If you did that in Japan you'd probably get fired. Besides in Japan, service staff are paid fairly, because of service charges that are already included in the bill. Whenever my friends visited me in Japan, I warned them not to tip the hotel staff because for sure the staff are getting a more than decent pay. Plus, as I said, they have rules against it.

When I hear about tipping I don't get it sometimes. Paying a person extra for... doing what their job entails? For doing exactly what they were hired to? People demanding more and more by doing less and less. But I guess it's strongly a western thing. I'd feel embarassed getting a tip, but I suppose that's because I work surrounded by Japan's service culture.

I'm not saying I love our tipping industry. In fact I believe it sould be fixed. Sometimes I come home with only 20 bucks and a good night 200. I'm just saying I'm poor and if someone on the street said "hey here's a 20" no reason and no cause I'ma happy to accept. And I'm not saying everyone should think like me either. It's great you have so much pride for your work and I do too. But yes I understand that other countries don't do this in fact I know a lot about it. It started in the great desperation and since owners couldn't pay there workers they told them "if you want money except tips cause I ain't pay'in you" and since our tipping industry hasn't been changed.
Hey what's wrong with over tipping? Over tip all you want don't let your partner tell you otherwise! You got money so use it! Who's with me!! ヽ(`Д´)ノ