"Never give camellias; the heads fall off," cautions an official pamphlet issued to Tokyo's 23,000 policemen last week. "And never give sick people potted plants; their connotation of being rooted may make recipient think you expect him to be sick a long time."
In the multifoliate, delicately shaded structure of Japanese manners, even the off-duty politeness of policemen needs subtle cultivation. Other petals of advice in the pamphlet for crude cops:
¶ "Never buy a gift from a store near recipient's home, but from one farther away so it really looks like a thoughtful gift."
¶ "Never lick your chopsticks to get...
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