TABLE MANNERS
- Some restaurants and private homes have low tables and cushions on the floor, rather than Western style chairs and tables. These are usually found on tatami floors.
- In Japan, you say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") after finishing the meal.
- It is common in some restaurants to share dishes of food at the table. When eating from shared dishes, move some food from the shared plates onto your own using the chopsticks provided for that purpose.
- It is important to learn how to use chopsticks.
- Don't blow your nose in public, and especially at the table.
- Empty your dishes to the last grain of rice.
- Don't talk about toilet related and similarly unappetizing topics during or before a meal.
- After you eat, move all your dishes back to the same position they were at the start of the meal: replace the lids on dishes and put your chopsticks on the chopstick holder or back into their paper slip.
- When drinking alcoholic beverages, people serve each other, instead of pouring their own beverage.
- If someone wants to serve you more alcohol, empty your glass and hold it towards that person.
- Do not start drinking until everybody at the table is served and the glasses are raised for a toast.
- Say "kampai", don't say "chin chin" when drinking a toast, because this expression refers to the male genitals.
