Japanese Culture | Eating Manners

Warm-Up Questions
Ask your teacher and classmates the following questions.

1. How often do you eat out?

2. Do you know of any dining customs or taboos in other countries?

3. Are there any important dining customs or taboos in your country?

MATCHING - Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1 key (adj) A something that is avoided or forbidden in some cultures

2 stab (v) B a way of doing something in which the same actions are
done in the same way every time
3 taboo (n) C to push a pointed object into something

4 ritual (n) D the act of burning a dead body

5 fidget (v) E very important to do or achieve something

6 cremation (n) F to move restlessly, nervously, or impatiently

Listening - Watch the YouTube video up to the 2:12 mark and answer the questions.

https://youtu.be/ohwkcVY86zU

1 What is important to follow when dining in Japan?

2 When is it okay to point your chopsticks at someone or something?

3 How are chopsticks different from forks when dining?

4 What do taboo uses of chopsticks include?

5 In what ways are chopsticks used at funerals?

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 Part 1 – Watch the video from 0:01 – 2:12 and complete the sentences.

Dining Etiquette in Japan

It’s important to follow some simple but …………………..1 customs when dining in Japan.

First of all, you should know some very important rules for using chopsticks. To start, you
should never point your chopsticks at someone while talking. Actually, you shouldn’t use
your chopsticks to ……………...……..2 at anything or anyone. This is considered rude.

Also, unlike Western culture when using a fork, you should ………………………..3 from
licking any sauce off your chopsticks. Stabbing your chopsticks like a fork into meat or
other food to pick it up, is also considered bad manners. Taboo uses of the chopsticks
include ………………………4 them into a bowl of rice or passing food to another person
with your chopsticks. These are acts that will remind your Japanese colleagues, guests,
or friends of the ………………………….5 used during funerals.

For example, after cremation, loved ones pass the bones of the deceased from chopstick
to chopstick as they are passed to the urn. In addition, bowls of rice are also placed in
front of the family altar with chopsticks stuck into it as an offering to ……………………… 6
family members.

Basically, it is very important not to fidget or play with your chopsticks in any way.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the following questions with your teacher and classmates.

1. What are good manners – in general?

2. What are bad manners – in general?

3. What are good table manners?

4. Are you good at using chopsticks?

5. Can you think of examples of things that might be good manners in one country and bad
manners in another?

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 Part 2 – Watch the video from 2:12 – 4:08 and complete the sentences.

When arriving at most Japanese restaurants, you will receive an oshibori. An oshibori is a
………………………………1. They are often warm in the winter and cold in the summer.

Do not use it to wash your face or head; it isn’t a washcloth! …………………………..2, use
it to wash your hands, then fold it and set it to the side.

When eating at many Japanese-style restaurants most tables share many different
plates. It is very ………………………3 to order your own entrée at a Japanese-style
restaurant and to eat it by yourself. When beginning your meal, you should
………………………..4 your hands together, bow slightly, and say, “itadaki-masu” which
can be translated to “I humbly receive.” A modern translation might be “let’s eat” or “thank
you for the food.” When finishing a meal Japanese people again clasp their hands
together, bow ……………………….5, and say, “Gochisousama.”

The expression “gochisousama” means, “thanks for the nice meal.”

It is used to show …………………………....6 to the cook, the person who serves the food,
and in some cases, it is used to thank someone who has paid for your meal.

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