As there are heaps of Japanese food lovers in the world, Japanese food went viral across the internet world, however, many people get shocked when they come to Japan to eat authentic Japanese food because they drew attention from locals by their improper manners when having meals. There is an old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” So, to behave like locals, we need to think about two questions first – what is the improper way to have meal in Japan? And what is the correct behaviour towards those mistakes?
1. Passing food to another person
Buddhist ritual – people use chopsticks to pick bones out of the ashes and pass them to one another or hold them all together before transferring them to the urn.
Solution: put the food on a plate, or just ask them to pick from your plate.
2. Placing the chopstick towards people
Pointing at someone is always rude in many countries in the world, it also applies by pointing with the chopstick.
Solution: place the chopstick horizontal to yourself in order not to point at people who seat oppositely to you.
3. Slurp soup is fine, but smacking or burping are not
Slurping soup at Ramen restaurants are always fine because it cools down the hot noodles a bit, allowing you to eat without burning your mouth. But smacking or burping is completely not acceptable because it is noisy and lack of manner.
4. Don’t drink before everyone has their first drink
There is always a ceremonious beginning to kick things off, thus eating before everyone will break the ceremony and create an embarrassing environment, also it implies lack of manner.
Solution: lift your drink and say “kanpai” (means cheers in English), and then everyone will lift their drinks to follow you. At the same time, pouring drinks is completely fine but never pour for yourself, because others will pour you a drink in return. Don’t take away their chance for being polite.
5. Sticking chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice
It is a Buddhist ritual that people often stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice when they worship the deceased.
Solution: just place your chopsticks horizontally on your bowl and pay attention not to point it at anyone.
These listed above are just tips of the iceberg in the entire table manner in Japan, but there is no need to get worried. What you need to do is just observing how others behave before you take any action because following locals to behave will never lead you to the wrong track.
