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A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

nippon.com

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Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#151

Post by Gigachad »

Umofomia wrote: post #84
wahnfrieden wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bringing the bowl close to your mouth and picking food up from it is proper. Pushing it from the bowl into your mouth is impolite but common.

I'm under the impression this is a Chinese vs. Japanese difference. Shoveling food into your mouth is perfectly acceptable in Chinese etiquette but discouraged in Japanese. Accordingly the Japanese cook their rice to clump together so it's easier to pick up using your chopsticks so that you don't have to resort to shoveling.

Both do, but the moment any sauce gets on the rice it's impossible to pick up with chopsticks.

Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#152

Post by bot403 »

0x3f wrote: post #29
wagwang wrote: post #9

Always interesting to see the analogs of island vs continental culture when comparing UK America and Japan China. Seems like islanders, due to their reliance on trade, naturally get specialized and autistic about their craft so they can have a comparative advantage, and their obsessions carry over into stuffy traditional practices.

I counter with the American swap-the-fork-hand-after-you-cut thing. Diabolical.

It's considered polite in American culture.

Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#153

Post by kibwen »

gavmor wrote: post #113
kibwen wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an American, I don't think I have ever seen anyone do this.

Really? You hold the fork with your dominant hand, and cut with your non-dominant hand?

Yes. For the record, Americans also don't wear their shoes indoors, except for maybe some people in extremely dry climates.

Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#155

Post by nihonde »

perdomon wrote: post #41

Some of these sound just as made-up as a lot of Western dining "rules." Maybe someone more familiar with the culture can say whether or not these are true faux pas in an everyday ramen shop or similar.

No one is going to get mad at you for violating these, but they will judge you. If you're trying to get along with a person from a proper Japanese family, you'll fail unless you know all of these and more. For example, placing bowls/plates on the table too hard, or not trying hard enough to pay the bill, not serving others, pouring your own drink...the list goes on and on. Most people think these things are silly, but some absolutely do not and will treat you accordingly if you're making these mistakes. Whether or not you care is up to you and the situation. This is all also true in almost every other culture, by the way.

Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#156

Post by anal_reactor »

maxerickson wrote: post #110
pndy wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I feel like there was a brief period when middle class came to existence and started mimicking customs of the upper class, which were very complicated because the upper class was mostly bored and had invented this shit to kill the time. Then two things happened:

1. Upper class stopped being formal because formality stopped being a signal of upper class.

2. Middle class stopped having social gatherings in general.

So, like, "it is a part of the culture" in the same sense as traditional outfits are a part of the culture - most people have very vague awareness, nobody really cares.

Re: A Japanese glossary of chopsticks faux pas (2022)

#160

Post by GuestFAUniverse »

markdown wrote: post #135
Xixi wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure I'd put it down entirely to Osaka versus Kyoto. My impression is that these things often have at least as much to do with upbringing, formality, and social background as with region. I don't know where you're from, so apologies if this is an unfair assumption, but in countries like the US or Australia people often seem less attuned to social class, whereas in places like the UK, France, and indeed Japan,…

Agreed. Was always taught to never put elbows on the table, but as an adult I see people do it everywhere.

Yeah, as if we still have loose table tops, like in medieval times.
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