5 Things That You Should Avoid Doing When Using Chopsticks in Japan

By: Sachiko Sasaki

After sharing an article about my top 5 most preferred Japanese food, I thought of sharing about the things or habits that you should not do when using chopsticks in either Japan or around Japanese people because for some reasons, it might be rude for them if you are doing it without any idea about it or why it is a bad manner. I also posted some GIF's that I made so that you guys would have a better visualization about the things that I listed in this article. This article is basically a Japanese manner etiquette guide and give you more idea on when you should and should not do such habits or activity with chopstick on certain situations.

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Chopsticks are one pair of thin stick that are used for picking or eating food. Chopsticks are popular in Asia particularly in Eastern Asia just like China, Japan and Korea. Chopsticks existed long time ago, China has been using chopsticks since 1200 BC and Chinese culture made its way to expand in Japan through Korea then had migrated and adopted to other Asian countries. Now, chopsticks are popular in Eastern Asian people as their eating utensils and now it is part of their daily routine as well. As for now, I am going to share you about the cultures and beliefs of Japan in using chopsticks, but I also believe that some of the Japanese beliefs are also part in other countries' beliefs as well because they share the same religion which is Buddhism. Here are the top 5 that you should avoid doing when you are using chopsticks in Japan:

1. Don't get the bowl or plate using chopsticks

Don't ever get the bowl or plate closer to you using chopsticks because it is considered as a inappropriate manner. Chopsticks are not invented to get a bowl or a plate, it is for eating and picking food purposes. Instead of using chopsticks to get your bowl or plate closer to you, just use both of your hands to get it and it will be easier and more formal to get your desired dish.

2. Don't pick or dig in the food

You should not be picking food because it is not a formal type of manner when you are eating with friends especially when you are in public. You should not browse for food or dig in the dish to look for something good but get what is on the top of the dish.

3. Don't stick the food using chopsticks

On the picture that is shown, you should never stick or skew your food on chopsticks just like that. Although, I know that it is hard to pick food using chopsticks especially when you are getting for a small portion or a small piece of food like peas and beans. However, it is also important to have right manners and be polite by doing what is acceptable to the eyes to whom who are around you.

4. Don't pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks

Passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks is considered as a bad habit and manner because this is significantly done for a reason. This is forbidden because you can only do this when a person died and being cremated, the funeral attendees will pass the dead persons bone from a pair of chopsticks to another pair of chopsticks as a part of Buddhist funeral ritual and ceremony.

5. Don't stick your chopsticks in the middle of the rice

In Japan, you can just usually do this when you mourn your loved ones who is dead. Putting or sticking chopsticks upright in the middle of the bowl of rice is a way of offering food to the spirit of loved ones. That is the reason why this is a big no when people do this for no reason at all.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chopstick
http://www.tofugu.com/2013/09/02/unearthing-the-mysteries-of-japanese-chopsticks/ http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/10-golden-rules-for-japanese-chopstick-manners http://justhungry.com/your-guide-better-chopstick-etiquette-mostly-japanese