Japanese Table Etiquette, Japan, Asia

In Japan, you say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") after finishing the meal.

Handling Dishes

Japanese dishes are designed to be the right size and shape for holding in the hand. It is a particularly important point of etiquette to lift the dishes to the breast when eating rice or drinking soup.

When eating tempura, sashimi (raw fish), or other food which is dipped in sauce before being eaten that you use the hand not holding the chopsticks to hold the dish containing the sauce.

In Japan, sashimi isn't just sliced up fish, it's a work of art

The dishes or plates used for grilled fish are usually too large to pick up. Such platters may be left on the table. When eating from a large platter or pot, transfer a portion from the communal pot to your own small dish and then lift this dish to eat.

Table Manners

♦ Use your chopsticks to cut up pieces of food too large to fit into the mouth in one bite.

♦ When eating food served in a bowl with a lid, replace the lid on the bowl when you have finished.

♦ When you have finished your meal, replace your chopsticks on the chopstick rest (when provided/present) as they were when you started.

(I usually fold the chopstick wrapper into a small rest)