Dining etiquette of Japan.
Whether eating with new Japanese friends in a home or attending a business lunch, following a few simple rules of Japanese dining etiquette will make you shine. No need to be nervous; your hosts understand that you may not be familiar with all of their customs. First, go read about Japanese etiquette for greetings and removing shoes, then use these tips for Japanese dining etiquette and table manners to demonstrate a genuine interest in the local culture.
Start by saying hello
How to Use Chopsticks Properly
Knowing how to use chopsticks is essential for Japanese dining etiquette, particularly in formal occasions. Do not expect to find Western-style utensils.
First, start by lifting the chopsticks with both hands and follow the rules of etiquette; see how to use chopsticks politely.
No matter where you happen to be enjoying Asian food in the world, knowing how to use chopsticks correctly will come in handy. Learning how to eat with chopsticks is easy: No need to panic or suffer through the embarrassment of being the only one at the table to ask for a fork! Once you learn the correct way to handle chopsticks, knowing a few simple rules of etiquette will make you that much more of a cultured pro.
Choosing Chopsticks If given a choice, wooden chopsticks are far less slippery for beginners than the plastic or metal versions. Unfortunately, despite the small size, the demand for disposable chopsticks far surpasses the ability to make them from wood scrap.
An estimated 20 million mature trees are logged each year just to supply only China with billions of throwaway chopsticks. Plastic and metal chopsticks, while slightly more tricky to use, are far more sustainable.
How to Eat With Chopsticks
Just as riding a bike, the mechanics of using chopsticks are simple -- it's just a matter of practice. Once you get the hang of how to eat with chopsticks, you may find yourself looking forward to the next opportunity to practice. Using chopsticks pleasantly forces you to slow down, take deliberate bites, and ultimately enjoy a meal a little more than had you just 'shoveled' it in with spoon or fork!
The 'secret' to eating with chopsticks is simply to move only the top chopstick.
The bottom stick is held stationary in your fingers, while the top stick -- controlled by your first two fingers and thumb -- is moved to pinch bites of food.
Eating Tricky Food
Chopsticks seem extremely impractical for eating certain foods, however, there are polite workarounds. In many Asian countries a spoon will accompany dishes that are difficult to manage with only chopsticks.
- Lifting a bowl to face level and pushing rice into your mouth is both acceptable and perfectly normal in all parts of Asia with the exception of Korea. Alternatively, chopsticks can be held side by side to shovel rice from your plate.
- Slurping soup and noodles -- even with noises -- is acceptable in Asia. You can drink directly from your soup bowl.
- Large chunks of food can be torn or cut apart on your plate using chopsticks, however, do not impale a big piece of food as a way to lift it to your mouth.
- If no serving utensils are provided at a communal or family-style meal, turn your chopsticks around to use the clean ends when transferring food from communal dishes onto your own plate.
- In China, large pieces of food that cannot be broken apart (e.g., fried chicken) should be lifted with your chopsticks and nibbled; avoid using your hands whenever possible.
What NOT to Do with Chopsticks
- Do not rub chopsticks together to remove splinters or wooden strings.
- Do not tap chopsticks together in the air for practice or on a bowl to make noises.
- Do not leave chopsticks standing in a bowl vertically.
- Do not hold chopsticks in your hand with all five fingers as you would a weapon.
- Do not use chopsticks to gesture while talking or to point at people or dishes. A common newbie mistake is to use chopsticks to point at a particular dish you are recommending. Even worse, never use your chopsticks to gesticulate or point at food while grunting with your mouth full!
- Do not pass food to people with your chopsticks -- doing so resembles the practice of passing cremated bones at funerals. Instead, put the piece of food you intend to share directly onto the other person's plate.
- Do not suck sauce off the ends of your chopsticks or nibble on the ends.
The Most Important Rule of Japanese Dining Etiquette
Never, ever, pass food with your chopsticks! Doing so reminds Japanese of the ritual of passing cremated bones between chopsticks at funerals.
The same rule applies to sticking your chopsticks into a bowl of rice vertically -- another morbid symbol.
Japanese Table Manners
When first seated, many restaurants will provide you with a wet towel. Don't use the towel on your face or neck, instead use it to wash your hands then fold it and put it aside.
Begin your meal by saying “Itadaki-masu”
Do not dump soy sauce directly on your food, especially plain rice; instead, pour a small amount of soy sauce into a bowl and dip your food into it. You can always add more soy sauce to the bowl, but avoid wasting any. When eating ramen or soup, you can sip directly from the bowl. Lift the bowl to your mouth with your other hand; avoid holding chopsticks and a small bowl in the same hand. Don't be surprised to hear slurping noises from around the table. Unlike in the West, slurping your soup is not only accepted, it shows that you are enjoying the meal! Cleaning your plate, even down to the last grain of rice, is considered proper Japanese dining etiquette -- never waste food that you have put on your plate.
After the Meal
When the meal is finished, offer a formal thanks by saying: “Gochisosama-deshita” or simply “Gochisosama” for less formal occasions.
If you ate with disposable chopsticks, place them neatly back inside of the small bag and fold the end. Otherwise, leave them sideways on your plate rather than pointing them at the person seated across.
If eating in a restaurant, chances are that your host will pay to follow the concept of saving face. If you pay, place your money on the small tray provided rather than handing it to the server or register attendant. If no tray is present, use both hands to give your money and receive the change. Tipping is not common and is often considered rude in Japan.
Eating Sushi with Proper Japanese Dining Etiquette
Sushi is the default for many business lunches. When eating sushi, pour only a little soy sauce into the small bowl provided; leaving a bowl of dirty soy sauce behind is considered wasteful.
When dipping nigiri, turn it over so that only the meat touches the soy sauce. Leaving rice floating behind in your dipping bowl is bad form.
Japanese Dining Etiquette for Drinking
Meals are often accompanied with drinks, either beer or sake -- don't drink alone! Wait on all glasses to be filled, then someone will give a toast or simply say kanpai! which means cheers. Raise your glass, return the kanpai, and then drink.
Japanese often jump at the chance to pour drinks for each other; you should do the same. Top up the glasses of people seated around you, and never pour your own drink.
Things to Avoid in Japanese Dining Etiquette
Don't blow your nose at the table; instead, excuse yourself and go to the toilet or outside. Sniffling at the table to avoid blowing your nose is actually acceptable.
Do not point at people with chopsticks or your finger while making a point.
Although you should bring a gift if invited to someone's home for dinner, avoid giving anything in sets of four or nine. The two numbers sound similar to the words for death and suffering and are regarded with superstition.