Important! Table Manners you need to know when visiting Japan

Sushi, Sashimi and many kinds of Ramen are among tourists’ favorite foods when visiting Japan. However, before we eat all those delicious dishes, we’d better know some table manners in Japan!

1. Chopsticks
In Japan, chopsticks are used to eat most kinds of Japanese foods. That is why, we need to know some basic rules for using your chopsticks. First of all, you cannot stick your chopsticks in your bowl of rice, it is a taboo, because it reminds Japanese of funerals. In Japan, this custom is also known as Tsukitate-bashi (突き立て箸 ).
Put your chopsticks beside your bowl, do not stick it inside. In addition, you also cannot pass your food from your chopsticks to other people’s chopsticks. This is also related to a tradition performed during funerals in Japan.

2. Expression


Maybe lots of people are already familiar with this one. When we are about to start eating, Japanese say “Itadakimasu!”. And when you are done with your food, you can say “Gochiso sama deshita!”. Those expressions mean that you are feeling thankful for all the foods they served.

3. Kanpai!

Japanese are well-known to enjoy a cup of tea, sake, or other kinds of beverages together with other people. If following the tradition, we’d better not fill our own cup or glass.
When enjoying their drinks, Japanese have a custom to pour drinks for others around them. So you and your friends will pour drinks in each others’ glasses. After all already have their glasses ready, say “Kanpai!” (This can be translated as “cheers”) and start drinking.

4. Eating Noodles

When you are in Japan, eating noodles must be your main agenda. There are a lot of places to eat Ramen, either in restaurants or food stalls around you.
There is a special way to perfect your ramen eating experience. Just coat the noodles in the broth and slurp it as loud as you can! Let people around you hear your slurp. Not only is it the ideal way to enjoy a bowl of ramen, it can be outright insulting to the chef if you eat your ramen too quietly.

**personal note: slurping is a great way to deal with hot noodles, that might otherwise burn your mouth. By slurping you cool off the noodles as it enters your mouth.



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