In general, Japanese people have a lot of rules to respect in their daily life whether it is at home, at work or at the restaurant… The meal is not left out and includes a certain number of rules that we will make you discover.
Before eating
As a reminder, Japanese dishes are composed of several small dishes eaten at the same time. In Japanese families, the main dish is placed in the middle of the table to be shared by the other family members.
Before eating, Japanese people pronounce “itadakimasu” 頂きます which does not mean “good appetite” as we can read or hear very often but expresses gratitude, we could translate it as “I receive with humility”.
It is a spiritual concept where Japanese people thank first the Shinto deities, the animals, the plants and the cooks who assembled this dish.
For example if someone gives you an umbrella when it rains you can say “itadakimasu“.
Associated with “itadakimasu“, some Japanese people make a slight bow of the head by joining the two palms vertically, the bow is a mark of respect in Japan.
In some restaurants you will be offered wet towels called “oshibori” おしぼり which are used to wash your hands because Japanese people attach great importance to hygiene.
Before drinking we often toast by saying ” kampai ” which corresponds to our “good health!” in French.
During the meal
There are many rules concerning the use of Japanese chopsticks, we will show you the most important ones:
It is very rude to point at someone or something with your chopsticks.
It is also important to avoid sticking your chopsticks vertically into the bowl of rice because it reminds you of incense at Japanese funerals and therefore has a negative connotation. You should also avoid passing food from chopstick to chopstick.
Do not stick your chopsticks in food such as sashimi (raw fish) for example, it would be perceived as a lack of respect towards this food.
If you want to put your chopsticks, do not put them on the plate or bowl but on the chopstick rest or on the table directly.
When you eat your bowl of white rice, you should take it with your left hand and bring it to your mouth, then you push the rice with your right hand. It is the opposite for left-handed people.
When you handle your chopsticks, you should avoid crossing the chopsticks, it is not serious but it is more elegant.
At the table, you should stand up straight and not talk with your mouth full. You should take small bites, it is more elegant. Don’t pour yourself a drink, the other person often fills your glass. If you are the guest, you should not even serve yourself! Your host might take it the wrong way.
There are other rules like this as well. The most important thing to avoid is sticking chopsticks in your rice and exchanging something from chopstick to chopstick, which can really shock the people around you.
Do not hesitate to suck and make noise while eating Japanese noodles like ramen or udon or the soba. It is the same with tea. It is a sign of politeness in Japan. In restaurants, do not cut your sushi in restaurants, do not cut your food in two, eat it in one bite but paradoxically you can eat it with your fingers.
After the meal
When you have finished your meal, it is advisable not to leave anything on the plate, not even a grain of rice. You should place your chopsticks parallel to your rice bowl and facing the left. There, the Japanese understand that you have finished.
At the end of the meal, you can say“Gochiso sama deshita“, which means “thank you for the feast”. And finally, one last tip that may seem strange to Westerners. At busy times and depending on the number of people waiting to eat, do not take too much time. It will be good manners to eat and to leave the place to the others who are waiting. Always think of others…
As a tourist you can always make mistakes, but if you respect these codes the Japanese will be delighted and will let you know.