If they serve me slop with only a few good bits, I'm doing saguribashi.
A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
101–110 of 408 posts
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#102I'm curious for a native's opinion on how important these are. The etiquette I was taught growing up in the US is a mix of: - several things that are often quoted as good etiquette but nobody follows (elbows off the table, correct order of dishes) - lots of things that are customary but nobody cares if you don't follow it (napkin on lap, placement of silverware) - only a few things that actually matter and would be c…
People told me to avoid placing chopsticks upwards in a bowl before I even went to Japan so that is the only one I’d keep in mind.
Given how many of these are clever tricks that I learned from seeing Japanese people eat, like aligning the chopsticks quickly in a plate or cleaning waribashi from splinters by rubbing them together, I’d not take all of these seriously, but it’s cool to know nonetheless.
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#103I was shocked to find it's a faux pas to rub disposable chopsticks to remove potential splinters. I was taught this is what you're supposed to do with disposable chopsticks.
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Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#104Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s not western etiquette and makes no sense to me
Using your fork, knife, or spoon to point at a person is absolutely considered rude. Gesturing with utensils likewise (because you can shower others with cast off detritus.) A quick Google search will turn up hundreds of results corroborating this.
Or just consider the “asshole dinner guest” trope that appears in so many TV shows and movies. They will always be talking too loudly and gesticulating/pointing with their cutlery.
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#105Interesting. Some of these are big deals (particularly the ones mentioned as important) but others I have seen Japanese people in Tokyo do quite consistently. Soroebashi - not on the table, but I've seen chopsticks aligned by pushing them against the plate hundreds of time. I've also seen them used to stir miso soup, etc. plenty. Others I don't know that I would have much of an inclination to do and haven't seen but…
I think if you were to do an Osaka version of this, the list would be limited to maybe 4 of these (licking, chopsticks upright in rice, passing between chopsticks, and pointing esp. toward a senior would be taboo).
Whereas when I had a date with a girl from Kyoto, one of the first things that happened when we went to eat was she had to stop me from picking up my chopsticks impolitely and show me the proper way of doing it.
Suffice it to say my Osaka-learned table manners and speech patterns meant there was no second date.
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#106Interesting. Some of these are big deals (particularly the ones mentioned as important) but others I have seen Japanese people in Tokyo do quite consistently. Soroebashi - not on the table, but I've seen chopsticks aligned by pushing them against the plate hundreds of time. I've also seen them used to stir miso soup, etc. plenty. Others I don't know that I would have much of an inclination to do and haven't seen but…
I think if you were to do an Osaka version of this, the list would be limited to maybe 4 of these (licking, chopsticks upright in rice, passing between chopsticks, and pointing esp. toward a senior would be taboo). Whereas when I had a date with a girl from Kyoto, one of the first things that happened when we went to eat was she had to stop me from picking up my chopsticks impolitely and show me the proper way of doi…
It's always wild to me when I hear about how different the culture is between Osaka and Kyoto when they're so close.
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
The disposable wooden chopsticks in Japan don’t splinter (they’re higher quality and cost more than the ones we have in the US). That’s why you don’t need to rub to get rid of splinters.
Well that certainly depends on the establishment. I’ve picked out plenty of splinters here in Japan.
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Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#108Interesting. Some of these are big deals (particularly the ones mentioned as important) but others I have seen Japanese people in Tokyo do quite consistently. Soroebashi - not on the table, but I've seen chopsticks aligned by pushing them against the plate hundreds of time. I've also seen them used to stir miso soup, etc. plenty. Others I don't know that I would have much of an inclination to do and haven't seen but…
There's equally complex dining and utensils etiquette in Western culture but it's largely omitted (or even unknown) on daily basis.
Yes! Hardly anyone knows it all, and even people who know the basics adjust their behavior based on the situation. Eating out with your high school buddies requires a different level of observance than the dinner at which your girlfriend is introducing you to her parents.
Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#109Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)
#110Interesting. Some of these are big deals (particularly the ones mentioned as important) but others I have seen Japanese people in Tokyo do quite consistently. Soroebashi - not on the table, but I've seen chopsticks aligned by pushing them against the plate hundreds of time. I've also seen them used to stir miso soup, etc. plenty. Others I don't know that I would have much of an inclination to do and haven't seen but…
There's equally complex dining and utensils etiquette in Western culture but it's largely omitted (or even unknown) on daily basis.
That's not really a coherent statement.
If people don't even know it, it's not part of the culture.