Different cultures lead to dissimilar table manners!

Japanese Table Manners

1. It is acceptable for noodles to be slurped, although impolite in other countries.

2. Wasting food is considered impolite, so many Japanese will eat every grain of rice in their bowl.

3. It is polite to finish all the saké in your cup before you are served more. When you have had enough, it is polite to leave your saké cup full to show that you do not care for more.

4. Some restaurants provide a damp towel, used for wiping the hands before a meal. Although some men may use it to wipe their faces, women should only use it for their hands. When you are done, fold it and place it back on its tray.

5. There are specific ways to enjoy sushi and proper manners to show appreciation to the sushi chef.

6. Pour just enough soy sauce. Soy sauce is considered important in Japanese cuisine, and wasting it is extremely rude.

7. As much as possible, refrain from adding extra wasabi to sushi as this is considered impolite to the sushi chef; as he is considered a sushi expert and has placed the right amount of wasabi.

8. Hold sushi with either hands or chopsticks.

9. Dip the topping into the soy sauce, rather than the rice. If you dip the rice, it tends to separate.

10.It is important to know how to handle your chopsticks.


Chinese Table Manners

1.Chinese traditionally eat rice from a bowl. The rice bowl is raised to the mouth and the rice pushed into the mouth using the chopsticks. Some Chinese find it offensive to scoop rice from the bowl using a spoon. If rice is served on a plate, as is more common in the West, it is acceptable and more practical to eat it with a fork or spoon.

2. It is acceptable to transfer food to people who have a close relation with you if you noticed they are having difficulty picking up the food (close relation for example: parents, grandparents, children or significant others). Also it is a sign of respect to pass food to the elderly first before the dinner starts.

3. Never place your chopsticks on rice facing upwards. Any stick-like object facing upward resembles the incense sticks that Chinese use as offerings to deceased family members.

4. When communal chopsticks are supplied with shared plates of food, it is considered impolite to use your own chopsticks to pick up the food from the shared plate or eat using the communal chopsticks.