History of Japanese Table Manners

While the Japanese might have adopted the chopsticks and spoon from ancient China, they have, over time, developed a unique way of eating, wherein the diner holds the chopsticks in one hand and the rice bowl in the other. In contrast, people in China hold chopsticks and a spoon, with the rice bowl resting on the table.

This practice came from monks in temples in the 13th century, based on the idea that dining should not be accompanied by the unpleasant sound of clinking utensils. In addition, the idea of bringing food up to the mouth, instead of vice versa, was considered good manners, since it was the opposite of how animals usually eat (snout in food bowl).

Utensil placement

Correct placement of utensils is essential in Japanese table manners, and is one of the first things a new waiter at a restaurant must learn. The basic rule is to lay the chopsticks horizontally on the serving tray, closest to the diner, with the head pointing to the right. The rice bowl is to be placed on the left, and the soup bowl on the right. In a set with udon or soba, this takes the place of the soup bowl on the right.

As mentioned above, hold the rice bowl in your left hand while eating. Place your thumb on the rim of the bowl, then use the remaining fingers to scoop the bowl up from the base and support it. This allows you to hold bowls easily, even when it contains hot liquids like miso soup. Exceptions can be made for heavy trays, bento boxes, or Chinese dishes such as noodles or ramen, where it is alright to leave the bowl on the table.

Many Japanese restaurants serve miso soup in a bowl with a lid. When lifting the lid off, make sure to hold it upside down so that no condensation on the lid falls onto the table. When finished with the soup, replace the lid back onto the bowl. While some people place the lid back on upside down, it is good etiquette to place it back on properly, to show respect for the artwork painted on the lid.

If eating a meal with different courses served on small dishes, remember not to gather all the dishes into a stack when you are done. Leave them as is on the tray.

Chopstick use

Chopsticks hold a special meaning in Japan. It is believed that each person should own their own pair, because a part of the user’s soul will move into and reside in the chopsticks. Therefore, the correct use of chopsticks is encouraged in all Japanese from a young age.

While most meals are to be eaten with chopsticks, it is no problem for foreigners to request for a fork and spoon instead. (Do note that some restaurants which serve food on expensive crockery may deny your request, for fear of damaging the artwork etched onto the bowls and plates.) Some foods, such as sushi or crab legs, can be eaten with bare hands.
In cheaper restaurants where wooden disposable chopsticks are provided, be sure not to break them apart over your food tray. Bring the chopsticks over onto your lap and break it quietly out of sight under the table. Should you drop your chopsticks or any other utensils during a meal, it is good manners to leave it and call for a waiter to get a new pair, rather than stooping over to retrieve it yourself.

As a foreigner, it is perfectly alright to use the chopsticks however you can to eat. The only thing to note is that using the chopsticks to stab at the food is a big no-no.

After the meal, return the chopsticks into the paper bag if it came in one, or leave them on the chopstick rest provided.

Basic dining rules

Here are some other simple rules you can follow to ensure that you display good table manners.

– For a course meal with many small dishes, make sure to finish one dish fully before moving on to the next. The Japanese believe that this allows the diner to enjoy the full flavor of each dish.
– Try as much as possible to finish all the food on the table. However, soup from ramen, udon or soba dishes need not be finished.
– When eating a ricebowl with toppings (tempura, teriyaki chicken, etc.), do not mix the rice with the other foods. Only foods such as curry and raw egg can be mixed in with the rice.
– It is alright to slurp noisily at miso soup or noodles.
– Aside from slurping, try to eat as noiselessly as possible. Avoid clinking utensils together or speaking too much when eating.
– If you’d like extra rice, remember to leave a single mouthful in your current bowl. This is a signal to the server that you’d like more. Emptying your bowl is a sign that you are full and finished with the meal.

With these rules, you’ll be dining like a true Japanese in no time.

The post Etiquette Series – Japanese Table Manners appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

I am pretty sure that if you went to almost any other country you would be just fine with even broken English. But in Japan the knowledge of English language is quite on the low levels. This is mostly caused by the Japanese educational system. The Japanese start studying English only in middle school (junior high school), and the extent of their studies is reading some text while learning grammatical rules by heart. Not a very productive way of learning a language, if you ask me. Alas, you cannot just change the educational system of a whole country overnight and hope that the people will start speaking better English. The real problems might be lying deep down, invisible to bystanders like me.

Here’s an interesting thing though. Even if you ask a question to a random Japanese person in JAPANESE, they might end up replying to you in English, just because they can’t register the fact that a foreigner can learn their language. But let’s be honest, Japanese is indeed a hard language to learn if you compare it to any Romance and Germanic language. Thus this is not a very abnormal situation.

It is true, however, that most of the Japanese people can at least speak a little bit of English. Nonetheless, it might be better to get ready by learning a couple of phrases, instead of leaving everything to goddess of luck. In this article I will try to teach you some of the phrases that you will need during your trip. So buckle up and let’s get started!

Keep in mind, I am using romaji, the Japanese romanised version of spelling. This should be read just as they are written, with every single letter being pronounced.

Konnnichiwa – A phrase you might have heard before, and yes this does mean hello.

Sayonara – Yes, you guessed it! This one is good bye.

Arigatou (gozaimasu) – This one stands for thank you. You can use the gozaimasu if you want to seem polite, since that is the formal version of the phrase.

Doumo – Also stands for thank you, is less formal. It is also an especially good fit for using while doing your shopping or going to a restaurant.

Douitashimashit – What follows a thank you? Yes, you’ve got it, you’re welcome!

Onegai shimasu – The phrase means please, and you can use it in situations when you are asking the person to do something for you.

Hajimemashite – This is a phrase to use when introducing yourself. You could say it means I’m pleased to meet you.

Watashi wa X desu – My name is X.

X kara kimashita/Shusshin wa X desu – Both phrases have the same meaning: I am from X country.

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu – The phrase can mean Nice to meet you, but if we translate it to English literally, we will get something along the lines of Please take care of me.

Sumimasen/gomennasai – I’m sorry/Excuse me. These two do have a distinction, but you should be fine using either. What’s interesting though, you can use sumimasen to call the staff in your hotel, in a restaurant, a shop or anywhere else really, as well as as a phrase to kick-start a conversation.

Itadakimasu – You could say this is the Japanese equivalent for Bon Appetite, but not exactly. The phrase does mean Thank you for the food, but is used exclusively before eating.

Gochisousama deshita – Just like itadakimasu, this one also means Thank you for the food. However unlike the former this phrase is used only when you are finished with your food.

Oishii desu! – The food is very tasty!

Takushi noriba wa doko desu ka? – Even though I am strongly against you taking a taxi (these cost a fortune in Japan even for very short distances!), sometimes some things can’t be helped, so here’s a phrase for Where is the taxi stop?

Basutei wa doko desu ka? – Where is the bus station?

Chikaku no eki wa doko desu ka? – Where is the closest train station?

Tsugi no basu wa itsu desu ka? – When is the next bus?

Tsugi no densha wa itsu desu ka? – When is the next train?

X made douyatte ikimasu ka? – How can I go to X place?

Toire wa doko desu ka? – Where is the toilet?

Ikura desu ka? – How much does this cost?

Kore ga kaitai desu – I want to buy this.

X wa doko de kaemasu ka? – Where can I buy the X thing?

Nihongo ga wakarimasen – I don’t understand Japanese.

Eigo hanasemasu ka? – Can you speak English?

WiFi tsukaemasu ka? – Can I use the WiFi?

Hai – Yes.

Iie – No.

These ones are some of the basic phrases you might need as a tourist. But let’s not stop here and dig in a bit deeper. What happens if you suddenly and unexpectedly start feeling sick, and have no choice but to talk to somebody to ask for some immediate help? I know, speaking a foreign language you don’t really know is not going to be your priority, but it would be for the best to calm down and try to explain the situation to your guides and nurses. Here are a few simple phrases that will help you with the task.

Guai wa warui desu – I am feeling bad.

Atama/Onaka ga itai desu – My head/stomach hurts.

Heya ni modoritai desu – I want to go back to my room.

Yoko ni naritai desu – I want to lie down.

Netsu ga arimasu – I have fever.

Hakisou desu – I feel nauseous.

Mou daijoubu desu – I’m alright now.

The phrases listed above are not quite enough to hold up a conversation with a Japanese person, but of course nobody’s going to learn a whole new language for just a couple weeks long trip to the country. Mind you, a lot of foreigners in Japan cannot speak coherent Japanese even though they have lived here for many years. And then again they manage to get by with their lives just fine. Unless you end up in some very rural areas of Japan you will most likely be able to get help and guidance in English, even if not with perfect grammar or pronunciation. This list is just a precaution in case of an emergency!

In any case, I hope you enjoy your trip to Japan with or without this list!

The post Useful Japanese Words/Phrases to Learn for Your Trip appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.

On your next visit to Japan, try to find some of the following products and see for yourself what all the fuss is about:

1. Washlets

The Japanese have made going to the bathroom a lot more interesting with the invention of the Washlets. Created by Toto, a Japanese toilet company, Washlets are electronic toilet seats that feature water spray functions for the cleansing of the private parts. The product was first released in 1980, and has already sold tens of million units in the last 25 years.

Washlets have buttons to activate water spray for the genital and anal areas, to stop the water spray, to adjust the water spray pressure, and others. They are made up of two water spray nozzles, one for the genitals and one for the anus, and these are attached to the toilets in such a way that no water is splashed back. After each use, these nozzles are automatically washed and rinsed with warm water to prevent bacterial growth and foul odors, and then stowed away until next use.

Today, Washlets are widely used in newer Japanese homes, especially in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and other urban areas, and a significant number of hotels, hostels, restaurants, malls, train stations, and other establishments across the country have them.

If you want one for your home, visit Toto’s official global website, or check out any online shopping websites, as many of them have it and other electric toilet brands for sale.

2. Unusual Kit Kat flavours

A lot of people are probably aware of only one Kit Kat flavour — the regular chocolate one. However, in Japan, Kit Kat comes in many other flavours that you might not have imagined to be possible.

Introduced to Japan in the early 1970s, Kit Kat has launched more than 200 flavours since. In addition to the original standard variety, some of the most commonly found in supermarkets, convenience stores, and airport and train station shops around the country are green tea, dark chocolate, and strawberry.

Seasonal flavours are also available, like passion fruit ginger, chili, and plum, as well as regional flavours, like azuki sandwich (Nagoya), momiji manju (Hiroshima), and Shinshu apple (Shinshu).

Other popular Kit Kat flavours that are must-try are baked potato, blueberry cheesecake, sweet pudding, café au lait, beni imo, watermelon, pumpkin, miso soup, cantaloupe, brown sugar syrup, chestnut, cherry, double cookie, and cappuccino.

For those with a more adventurous palate, check out wasabi, soy sauce, hot Japanese chili, and sake flavoured Kit Kats.

3. Vending machines for eggs, underwear, and others

Vending machines are not unique to Japan. In many places around the world, these machines can also be found, and they sell food, snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets.

But, the Japanese have taken vending machines to another level. There are around 6 million of these automated machines scattered across the country, in almost every street corner, and they not only sell the typical food and beverage items, but also other sorts of stuff that foreigners may think as bizarre.

In Japan, there are vending machines that dispense eggs, live crabs, rice, fresh vegetables, bananas, oranges, lettuce, potatoes, and other produce. There are also some that offer some hot warm ramen or fish soup, t-shirt and underwear, surgical masks for your daily commute, condoms, and various other items.

4. Outrageous ice cream

Ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in the world. It is most especially enjoyed during the hot and humid months of the summer season.

In Japan, ice cream comes in a wide array of forms and flavours that are not found in other countries.

While it is common to see ice cream in containers, cups, or cones, or in the form of soft serve or popsicles, Japanese ice cream is also available as yukimi-daifuku, which is a sweet dumpling made from mocha rice and stuffed with ice cream. It has a soft and chewy texture, and the mochi and ice cream make an excellent fusion of flavours.

Another notable ice cream type popular in Japan is parfait, which is also common in the West. However, Japanese parfait uses more traditional ingredients that give it an authentic local essence. In addition to corn flakes, puffed rice cereal, whipped cream, and ice cream, Japanese parfait also features different fruits, jelly cubes, anko red bean paste, warabi mochi, shiratama dango (or mocha rice dumplings), and other homegrown ingredients.

Japan also has its own version of shaved ice, which is known as kakigori. Enjoyed by the Japanese for many centuries now, it consists of finely shaved ice topped with condensed milk, fresh fruits, whipped cream, shiratama dango, and anko red bean paste.

When it comes to flavours, some of the most unusual that can only be found in Japan are squid ink, soy sauce, miso, seaweed, bitter melon, wasabi, red beans, purple sweet potato, horse meat, deep fried oyster, ramen, curry, eel, octopus, crab, and beer.

5. Body pillows

Body pillows, or dakimakura, are large-size pillows that are sold everywhere in Japan. They are sometimes also called hug pillows or love pillows.

In the otaku world, dakimakura that have life-size images of popular manga and anime characters printed on them are referred to as waifu pillows or husbando pillows.

The link between dakimakura and the otaku culture started in the 1990s, when the first pillows with anime bishoujo (a Japanese word that literally means beautiful girl) and bishonen (a Japanese word that literally translates to beautiful boy) characters came out.

These body pillows come in 150 cm x 50 cm or 160 cm x 50 cm sizes and weigh less than two kilograms. They are usually sold at anime specialty shops and online shopping websites.

The post 5 Bizarre Japanese Products appeared first on Japaniverse Travel Guide.