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Japanese Eating Customs
Overview of Japanese Eating Customs Itadakimasu!
Use of this word is the first of the Japanese eating customs you should know. Prior to every meal, Japanese people ritualistically say "itadakimasu!," (pronounced "ee-ta-da-key-mas", and which basically means: "I humbly receive this food"), as an expression of appreciation for the food they are about to consume. Impress your Japanese companions with your politeness by using the word yourself!
Chopsticks and Rice
You'll be hard-pressed to travel in Japan without at some point finding yourself seated at a table with chopsticks and a bowl of rice in front of you. Here are some things you need to know. For starters, it's a good idea to learn to use chopsticks before you go to Japan, because there will be times when forks and knives are not available. How to Use Chopsticks
Using chopsticks is really quite easy once you get the hang of it. Follow these easy steps to get an idea of how it's done. 1. Lay the first chopstick across your ring finger while supporting it with the edge of your thumb as shown below:
2. Now insert the second chopstick between the middle finger and forefinger and support it with the tip of the thumb as shown in the following picture. Make sure that the tips of the chopsticks line up in length:
3. Now move the upper chopstick up and down using the middle finger and forefinger. The thumb acts as a pivot, while the lower chopstick remains stable:
There's room for variation so play around with it until you find a way that works for you. Practice makes perfect! Now that you know how to use your chopsticks, here are a few quick Japanese eating customs concerning chopsticks and rice:
Chopsticks Etiquette
Don't use chopsticks to pass food to another person.
It's considered impolite to point with your chopsticks or wave them around.
When using your chopsticks to take food from a shared dish, flip them around and use the wide end that you don't eat with to transfer the food from that dish to your own plate or rice bowl.
Lastly, don't stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this resembles the burning of incense at a Japanese funeral. Instead, rest them on your chopsticks holder, if provided, or lay them across the side of your rice bowl.
White rice in Japan represents purity, so you'll never see a Japanese person dowsing his or her rice with soy sauce. You shouldn't either. Instead, use the little soy sauce dish that is often provided, or pour the soy sauce on your other food items rather than the rice.
One more word about chopsticks. If you ever find yourself as a guest in a Japanese home, do not be shocked if all of the members of the family have a nice set of wooden or lacquer chopsticks and you, the guest of honor, have been given a cheap set of packaged, disposable sticks, called "waribashi." No, this doesn't mean that they want you to go away. On the contrary, as a guest you are being given your own, never-before-used set of chopsticks that haven't been tainted by the lips of the family members. As strange as it sounds, in Japan it is considered a polite gesture, so smile and accept it as such! Pouring Drinks
When you're out at a bar or restaurant drinking beer or sake (which in Japanese is actually called "nihon-shu") with Japanese friends or business associates, it is customary for drinking companions to pour drinks for one another. So never let your drinking partner pour his or her own drink. If you see their glass getting empty, simply grab the bottle and offer to pour. Likewise, don't pour your own drink. Your Japanese companion will notice your empty glass and offer to pour for you. Paying for meals
When dining as someone's guest, usually your host will pick up the bill. However, it is considered good manners to at least make an effort to pay. Your host will then insist again on paying, at which time you should reluctantly relent and thank him. While as a guest in Japan you're likely to find yourself treated to meals more often than not, there are times when you should be prepared to pull out your own wallet. If you're considerably older than the person(s) you're dining with or at an obviously higher station in life (such as an established businessman dining with college students), you might be expected to pay. If you're dining with a group of close friends, it is common for everyone to split the bill. And if you're on a man on a date with a Japanese woman, you should definitely offer to pick up the bill, although some women will insist on going Dutch. You should insist on picking up the bill when appropriate. It all sounds rather complicated, but after a while you'll get the feel for it. Eating on the Run
Another of the Japanese eating customs to know is that it is generally considered bad manners to eat while walking down the street. You may, however, stand and eat at special "tachi-gui" (stand and eat) shops that serve soba and even sushi!
It is also generally a good idea to avoid eating and drinking on crowded commuter trains, although doing so is acceptable on longer train trips. Japanese Eating Customs: Tipping
Tipping is not one of the Japanese eating customs, and is neither required nor expected in Japan, so there is no need to tip. This is true for restaurants, as well as taxis, hotels, and other service scenarios where tipping would be customary in many Western countries.
Index of Related Japanese Customs Links:
When you should remove your shoes / Japanese bathing etiquette / Gift giving / The basics of bowing / Business etiquette / Other manners and mannerisms
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