Japanese dishes are served either on the table for all the dinner company present or separately for each guest, set on a small, square meal-tray.
Other notable dinner etiquette applicable during a Japanese meal are
The lid of the rice bowl is placed upside down outside of the tray to the left. Soon afterward, the lid of the soup-bowl should be placed on the guest’s right. When eating politely, it is proper to put the bowl of food on the left palm.
A second helping of rice or soup may be served on a separate tray by the host. The guests must warmly accept the bowl with both hands, taking care to put it down on their trays once before beginning to eat from it again.
A morsel from a dish should be followed by a mouthful of rice.
As a rule, no napkins are used in a Japanese meal. The guest uses either a paper or handkerchief he has with him.
At the end of the meal the tips of the chopsticks are dipped in tea poured into the empty rice-bowl and then wiped off on a clean piece of paper. All the lids are replaced.
The guest says, "Gochisoo sama" with a bow.
This concludes the dinner at a Japanese house.
EASTERN DINING Manipulation of Chopsticks in Japan
Chopsticks should be placed on the table pointing to the diner’s left, with
the tips resting on the ‘hashioki’. Take the chopsticks in your right hand
and transfer them to the left hand. Then take the proper grip on them with
the fingers of the right hand.
DO NOT use your chopsticks to shift dishes around
DO NOT wave your chopsticks about in the air while trying to decide what
to eat next
DO NOT rummage about in the food looking for the tastiest morsel
DO NOT pick up a dish with the hand that is holding the chopsticks
DO NOT point your chopsticks at people when you are eating; never lick
them or spear food with the points
DO NOT hold the chopsticks with your fist, since
this appears as if they are being held as a weapon to hurt people
A Visual Representation of the Rules Above
Also, put the chopsticks on the chopstick rest when not in use.
This offers a convenient position to rest your eating utensils without
worrying about unclean surfaces making contact with the points. Generally
available at the more expensive or classier dining rooms.
1.Westerners are often taught not to make a noise when eating soup, whereas, in Japan it’s okay to slurp one’s noodles
2.Don’t start eating the soup as soon as it is placed in front of you, because Japanese meals are usually served all at once, rather than as separate courses, so wait until all the food is on the table and everyone is ready before you begin
3.Vertical planting of hashi in rice bowl reflects how rice is offered by Buddhists to their deceased ancestors. This is a
sign of mourning for the dead.
4.Before starting a meal, say "Itadakimasu"; after finishing, say "Gochisoosama."
On the other hand, it is common in American culture for traditional families to say a word of grace and thanksgiving before commencing dinner.
It ranges from a prayer of love and thanks to God for His provisions, blessings, and grace over the food to the
less tactful saying, "Rubber dub-dub, thanks for the grub."
{WebPage Resource for Prof. Gunji (EALC 150) in collaboration with Marcie Dueber / Maintenance by Simpson Leung 12/12/97}
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