What kind of table manners do you have in your country?
We have at least 20 “No”s in using chopsticks in Japan. I wondered why there are so many.
I found an interesting thing, which might be the reason.
Ancient Japanese thought God dwells in chopsticks (I am serious).
Sometimes chopsticks were made of “God tree,” which people thought Got lived in. They thought the tips of the chopsticks belonged to human beings and God owned the upper part of the chopsticks.
So, the Japanese feel something is wrong when we “abuse” chopsticks because Got is there.
Here are five major “No”s you can avoid.
1. 刺し箸 (stabbing chopsticks)
To stab food with chopstick
The original usage of chopsticks is to pick up and hold food. Basically, other ways to use them look against manners.
2. ちぎり箸(Tearing chopsticks)
To split food by holding one chopstick with each hand
Again, this is not the original way of using chopsticks, which looks impolite.
3. 二人箸(Two-people chopsticks)
To pass food with chopsticks to another person, who is catching it with chopsticks.
The reason why this is taboo is that this reminds us of a funeral. We have a ceremony, in which we pass bones after cremation from one to another using chopsticks.
4. 渡し箸 (Bridging chopsticks)
To put chopsticks on a bowl like a bridge.
To be honest, I sometimes do this, but this is impolite. We have to put chopsticks on a chopstick rest when we don’t use them.
5. 寄せ箸 (Drawing chopsticks)
To use chopsticks to draw a bowl.
Again, we should not use chopsticks other than to pick up and hold food.
There are more “No”s as well, while these are major ones. When you go to a Japanese restaurant next time, why don’t you try to eat the food gracefully by avoiding the above?
If you have not subscribed to our newsletter yet, join us from the link below.
Comments