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The Person Nearest The Elevator Door Pushes The Buttons

Determining who pushes the buttons for a floor in an elevator in the West can sometimes be difficult. However, in Japanese culture, it's always going to be the person nearest the door. You just politely tell that person what floor you want to go to, and they'll push the button for you. This might seem a bit different or even rude for tourists who aren't aware of the tradition at first, but it's perfectly normal.

Wikipedia

It also takes a lot of the guesswork out of if you should or shouldn't press the buttons while you're in an elevator. In addition, the person pressing the buttons is the last to get out once they reach their floor.