挨拶 (greeting / salutation)

挨拶 (あいさつ) — 'greeting, salutation' — is a culturally significant act in Japan, taught explicitly to children and treated as a discrete social practice. Failing to give or return a greeting (おはよう, こんにちは, お疲れ様, ありがとうございました, etc.) is treated as a meaningful social offense. Includes ritual openings, ceremonial speeches at events, and everyday hellos. There's a specific verb (挨拶をする 'do a greeting') distinct from any specific spoken words.