Japanese etiquette when eating

Precautions when eating

Eating with a rice bowl or a wooden bowl in your hand is the correct dining etiquette when eating Japanese food. Putting the bowl on the table and eating it directly is not elegant, so please pay attention. In addition, eating on elbows is also considered impolite in Japan, so no matter how comfortable you feel, you should try your best to avoid it.

etiquette of holding chopsticks

If you can form the habit of using chopsticks correctly from an early age, you will always follow the elegant way of using chopsticks from then on, which will leave a good impression on people. Besides, there are many etiquette about chopsticks in Japan. For example, it's impolite to stick chopsticks on food, hold chopsticks uncertainly against food, or bite chopsticks with your mouth.

Please keep quiet when taking the tableware

It's impolite to put the tableware carelessly and make noise. In addition, it is not good to beat the tableware with chopsticks, or to make a sound when placing the tableware.

Please pay attention to the volume of your speech

Although it also depends on the occasion of the meal, please avoid talking loudly at will during the meal. Because the restaurant is not a private place, but a public place used by other guests, let's try to consider the feelings of people around us.

You can make a "squeaky" sound when eating buckwheat noodles!

It is considered impolite to make noise while eating in some countries or regions. However, when eating noodles in Japan, you can make a "squeaky" sound. Especially buckwheat noodles, it is said that if you make a "swish" sound when eating, your mouth will be full of the aroma of buckwheat noodles.

"I'm going to start eating" and "I've finished eating, thank you for your hospitality"

In order to express gratitude for the food, Japanese people have the habit of paying tribute before and after eating. The Japanese believe that there is life in any food, and say "ITADAKIMASU" to sacrifice their lives for our food and clothing. After a meal, I usually say "I have finished my meal, thank you for your hospitality" (GOCHISOUSAMA) to express my gratitude. Whether you make a sound when you speak depends on the situation. For example, in a quiet place or when eating alone, you don't need to make a sound, just meditate in your heart.

etiquette taboos at Japanese dining tables

When serving a meal to a guest, you should not overfill or tip it, and you are not allowed to serve a bowl of rice with one spoon, otherwise it will be regarded as disrespectful to the guest. Because in the past, this method was often used when serving prisoners.

If you visit a Japanese friend's home, you must try to clean the food on your plate when eating.

When eating, it is forbidden to add chopsticks to your mouth or tongue, and it is forbidden to speak with food in your mouth or stand up with something in your mouth, otherwise it will be considered as a lack of education.

Eat sushi in one bite, because sushi is pinched in a bite size, and not eating it in one bite means that sushi makers can't grasp the size of sushi properly.

it is forbidden to pour red bean rice with Japanese miso soup. Japanese people are superstitious that it will get rained on when they get married.

It is forbidden for girls to eat food that has been given to gods, and it is thought that doing so will lead to marriage discord for girls when they grow up.

When the host picks up the dishes for you, you must never use chopsticks to pick up the dishes. In Japan, chopsticks are allowed to pass on to each other only when the ashes are collected.

When taking food out for an outing, it is forbidden to leave leftovers in the mountains. Apart from public morality and environmental problems, it is said that this is a fear that leftovers will attract ghosts.

When having a meal, you can't put chopsticks in a bowl full of rice. Because chopsticks are often placed in this form on the altar in front of the dead.

It is forbidden to knock on the rice bowl when eating. It is said that this is because people are superstitious that knocking on the bowl will attract hungry ghosts.