You’ll probably need chopsticks at some point if you’re visiting or working in Japan.
As part of Japanese culture, chopsticks, or Ohashi are integral. By using them correctly, you can win friends, while by using them incorrectly, you may even offend people.
With all your knowledge of Japanese dramas under your belt, and your chopstick etiquette
time to impress your friends (or avoid making chopstick taboos) with your chopstick etiquette.
It is very important to use proper manners and etiquette in Japan. The proper way to greet others or take your shoes off when entering someone’s home should be familiar to you when visiting. Chopsticks are an important part of showing politeness.
In Japan, chopsticks should be used according to 10 simple rules.
1. Don’t Tap Your Chopsticks Against Tableware
Tapping on plates or glasses with chopsticks held like drumsticks is called “tataki-bashi” and is considered rude. Aside from making a loud clinking sound, this act is also seen as quite childish. Also, there is an old Japanese belief that tapping against bowls draws evil spirits, which may explain this etiquette rule.
2. Don’t Rub Your Chopsticks Together
It is common practice to rub cheap chopsticks together to remove splinters. In most cases, waribashi (disposable chopsticks that are broken in half before use) fall into this category.
You are showing that you believe the host has provided you with low-quality or cheap chopsticks if you rub your chopsticks together. It can be interpreted as an insult.
3. Standing Your Chopsticks Up Vertically
Putting chopsticks vertically in your bowl is one of the biggest and most common taboos. In Japanese funerals, two chopsticks are placed vertically in the middle of a bowl of rice. Traditionally, it is bad luck to place chopsticks straight upright in a bowl. There are still many Asian countries that frown upon using chopsticks like this, so use the chopstick rest beside your dish! It’s also possible to rest disposable chopsticks on the bag they came in.
4. Do Not Stab Food With Your Chopsticks (sashi bashi – 刺さし)
One chopstick should not be used to stab food and bring it to your mouth. This is disrespectful, rude, and just plain bad manners. Keep both chopsticks in your hand at all times.
It is considered impolite to spear your food with both chopsticks.
In any case, Japanese food is often served in small pieces that are easy to pick up with chopsticks. Despite the urge to spear the food, resist!
To check if food is properly cooked, some people use chopsticks. Additionally, this may appear rude, since you don’t trust your host to prepare your meal properly.
5. Passing Food from Chopstick to Chopstick (拾い箸)
Sharing food by passing it with your chopsticks and having another person take it with theirs is also a “common” mistake. Funerals are also subject to this taboo. Bone fragments are passed around with chopsticks at funerals in Japan. Try sharing that slice of toriniku differently next time (or just keep it to yourself).
In Japanese funerals, chopsticks are used to pass the bones of the deceased between people at Japanese funerals. People are reminded of this when you pass food between chopsticks.
When sharing food with someone, move it to a dish that they can pick up from. In Japanese culture, chopsticks play an important role.
6. Please do not say “Itadakimasu” (Thank You for This Food) while holding chopsticks
Japanese etiquette requires that before taking your first bite during meals, you put both hands together and humbly say “itadakimasu” (literally, “I humbly accept [this food]”) before taking your first bite. With the popularity of Japanese cuisine overseas, there is likely to be a large number of people overseas who are even familiar with this term, and with “gochisosama,” which is said after the meal has been consumed. It is important not to say “itadakimasu” while already holding chopsticks in your hand. There is a type of kiraibashi known as ogami-bashi, which originated in Japan as it was considered rude to show off your chopstick ends because it is considered impolite to do so. Please make sure that when you dine in Japan, you pick up your chopsticks after you have said the words “itadakimasu” before picking up your chopsticks.
7. Do Not Use Chopsticks to Point at Objects or People
Japanese consider it rude and low-class to point your chopsticks at people or food while dining. The use of chopsticks can include pointing at food items as if to say, “This is good,” holding them absentmindedly while chatting, or pointing with them instead of your fingers.
8. Leave your chopsticks uncrossed on your bowl or table
When your chopsticks are crossed on top of your bowl, you’re no longer interested in it.
It can be rude to continue eating while you’re still eating.
When resting your chopsticks, place them neatly on a chopstick holder.
It is common for restaurants to provide chopstick holders. You can make a chopstick holder from disposable chopsticks. It is also important to remember that crossed chopsticks can be associated with funerals as well. You should avoid doing this.
9. Using soup to wash chopsticks
Don’t wash off your chopsticks with soup (or anything else at the table). Furthermore, rubbing disposable wooden chopsticks together is bad manners. The purpose of this is to remove splinters from cheap chopsticks, so doing this indicates that you believe your chopsticks are cheap. Unless your chopsticks are splintery, don’t use disposable chopsticks.
10. X-shaped chopsticks are not acceptable
Chopsticks crossing each other or being held in an x-shape are symbols of death in China and other Asian countries. Japan also considers it a bad omen, so avoid it at all costs. Make sure your chopsticks are parallel with your body whenever possible.
Is it disrespectful to not use chopsticks in Japan?
If you’re visiting or working in Japan, there’s a good chance you will need chopsticks at some point. Chopsticks, which are also known as Ohashi in Japanese, are an integral part of the culture. It is possible to win friends by using them correctly, but if you use them incorrectly, you may even offend people by overusing them.
The knowledge that you have of Japanese dramas under your belt, as well as your chopstick etiquette, will certainly be helpful.
The time has come for you to impress your friends (or avoid making chopstick taboos) with your chopstick etiquette.
If you come from a western country, Maybe you rarely use chopsticks. It is not considered rude to not chopsticks in Japan. You may even be offered a fork and knife if you don’t look Asian at many restaurants. In less tourist-friendly areas, some restaurants may not provide forks, so you’ll need to bring your own. Your server may even politely ask for a fork if you’re struggling with your chopsticks.
You can also use a fork in a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. No way is this considered rude. It should make them happy to have you as a customer, and they will want you to have a good time. It’s nothing to worry about, chill out.
Is it disrespectful to use a fork instead of chopsticks?
There is a possibility that smaller restaurants don’t even have forks on hand! It is more common to use spoons and knives in restaurants, but forks may not be available in some. Outside of tourist areas and Tokyo, this is especially true.
Japan does not consider it rude to eat with a fork. You may be offered a fork and knife by your server if you do not look Asian in many restaurants. If you go to a restaurant in a less touristy area, you may not find forks, so you will have to bring your own.
There is also the possibility that some people may judge you if you can’t use chopsticks. The use of a fork is not considered rude or impolite. Depending on the setting, it may be embarrassing for you, but that’s the only risk.
So, if you’re trying to impress a Japanese business contact or someone you’re dating, you might want to learn how to use chopsticks. No one will be offended, however.
Why is it bad etiquette to leave chopsticks pointing up?
In Japanese culture, pointing at people with chopsticks is considered rude. One finger pointing at a person or thing in Japan is also rude. When picking up food and eating it, keep your chopsticks relatively low on the table.
Putting chopsticks vertically in your bowl is one of the biggest and most common taboos. At Japanese funerals, a bowl of rice is left with two chopsticks standing vertically in the middle. Traditionally, it is bad luck to place chopsticks straight upright in a bowl. There are many Asian countries that follow this chopstick no-no, so always use the chopstick rests. beside your dish! Disposable chopsticks can also be rested on their bag if you’re feeling crafty.
After you’ve seen all the latest Japanese dramas and learned how to order food in Japanese, impress your friends (or refrain from breaking a chopstick taboo) with your chopstick etiquette
A ninja restaurant has plenty of “chopstick taboos”, so let’s start with two of the most important ones.
Is it rude to ask for a fork in Japan?
In Japan, using a fork instead of chopsticks is not considered rude. Tourists are used to restaurants accommodating their needs.
If you do not look Asian or use your chopsticks well, a server may ask if you would like a fork. If you don’t look Asian or don’t use chopsticks well, a server might politely ask you for a fork.
Knives and spoons may be automatically asked if a person does not look Asian or Japanese. For foreigners, using chopsticks is not necessarily comfortable. Know how to use chopsticks but are unfamiliar with cultural conventions. The most important thing is to know that you are doing your best.
Please remember to remove your utensils from your rice bowl before leaving when eating in Japan. The chopsticks or spoons should stick out about 1 inch from your bowl at a 45-degree angle. It is possible that forks aren’t even available in smaller restaurants. There are some types of restaurants that don’t provide forks, instead offering spoons and knives in their place. The situation is particularly pronounced outside of Tokyo and tourist areas.
Chopsticks may also be judged by some people if you cannot use them. When you use a fork, you are not being rude or impolite. When you find yourself in an embarrassing situation, you may find it embarrassing for yourself. It might be a good idea to learn how to use chopsticks before dating a Japanese person. Whatever you do, no one will be offended.
Conclusion
There are many rules regarding chopstick etiquette in Japan, but many also apply to a fork and knife. Also, you wouldn’t point with your spoon or stick a fork in your hair if you were washing your knife in soup. As long as you don’t offend anyone by putting chopsticks in a bowl of rice or passing food between chopsticks, all the rest will come with practice.
