Before you eat: Japanese dining etiquettes and taboos

Image Source: MyCrazyBuffet.com

Japanese culture is centered on politeness, respect, and graciousness. Such reverence and refinement is observed not only in how they treat each other, but also in their manner of eating and dining.

For those who are foreign to the table manners and dining taboos of Japan, there are some essential things to keep in mind before eating Japanese food.

At the beginning of the meal, the Japanese bow and position their hands in a Namaste manner and politely say “Itadakimasu” which means “I gratefully receive.” This gesture is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the collective efforts made by many in the preparation of the meal.

Image Source: ChopstickEtiquette.com

It is customary for the Japanese to use chopsticks, and one of the most fundamental elements of Japanese table manners is the proper use of chopsticks. When there is shared food, the ends of the chopsticks which are not used for eating are usually used to take food from the shared plate. The other end is used for eating and should not be used to pick up shared food. In addition, it is taboo to stick the chopsticks into the rice. In Japanese tradition, sticking chopsticks into the rice is done only at the funerals.

Sharing food is also common in Japanese dining. In fact, it is practiced in private households and in restaurants such as an izakaya. When sharing food, it is proper to place a morsel of food onto a small plate and then pass the dish to another person. Passing food from chopstick to chopstick is an offensive gesture as it resembles the Japanese’s funeral tradition of cremation wherein the bones of the deceased are handled in almost the same fashion.

Image Source: Guardian.co.uk

When eating rice, the rice bowl should be held close to the mouth. This is done to avoid spilling the rice. It is also considered rude to pour an excessive amount of soy over the rice. Instead, a small amount of soy should be poured onto the dish, not on the rice. When eating sushi, it is expected that one will eat it in one bite. Separating or cutting the sushi into halves destroys the beautifully prepared sushi. Slurping is allowed when eating noodles; however it is not a universally practiced Japanese etiquette. In fact, it is considered offensive similarly with blowing one’s nose at the table.

To end the meal, one should always express gratitude by saying “Gochisosama deshita” or “Thank you for the meal.”

JC Uni-tec provides kitchen equipment perfect for making Japanese dishes. This blog offers more topics on Japanese cuisine.