Whether you are visiting Japan in the near future or you just want to learn to eat more like a Japanese, either way, it doesn’t hurt to know the cultures of other people, especially when it comes to feeding oneself. There are certain things the Japanese do that is not seen in other parts of the world. Here are some things you might want to know about Japanese when it comes to their eating etiquette.

1, Thank the waiters when they serve you your food.

一，当服务员为你端食物时和他们道谢。

Japanese are said to be the most polite people in the world. And they don’t just show it to tourists and foreigners who visit their family, but they are even more polite towards their own people. They are taught to be nice to everyone around them since young, regardless of their positions, wealth or appearance. There is no difference between when it comes to the people who work in the restaurant. They always make sure they thank the people as a means of appreciation.

2, Use the towel on your hands only.

二，只是用手巾抹手而已。

If you’ve been to any Japanese restaurants, most likely they’ll bring you a hand towel as well, regardless of before or after your meal. However, you have to make sure to only use the towels on your hands only. Never use them to wipe your face, or the table, or your personal belongings. Even though they do wash their towels every time after use, that doesn’t mean you can take it for granted and be unhygienic. Always respect their rules.

3, Don’t pass food over to others.

三，不要传食物给别人。

It seems like we are all okay with this, but this can be really offensive to Japanese. Since Japanese food is usually catered to only one person, that means everyone has their fair share of a meal to eat. Passing food to others is not only unhygienic, but it is also rude as you are disturbing others while they are eating. Sure it is okay to do it in Malaysia or any other countries, but if you are in Japan, try to avoid doing this, even if you meant well.

4, Don’t stick your chopsticks upright on your rice.

四，不要把筷子插在饭上。

If you are traveling with a kid to Japan, most likely they will play with anything they think is fun. However, make sure you do not let them stick their chopsticks upright on the rice. To Japanese, they look at it as a sign of disrespectful, because Japanese pray with incense, and the chopsticks on rice kind of resembles the look the incense and the act of praying.

5, Don’t point your chopstick at others.

五，不要用筷子指别人。

This should be a general knowledge, as pointing your chopstick at someone is offensive in any way. Japanese people are not excluded as well. It is indeed a rude way of pointing at someone and getting their attention when the proper thing you should do is to put down your chopstick and gesture to them that they are talking to them.

6, Don’t rub your chopsticks against each other.

六，不要把摩擦筷子。

It is way too common to see Japanese restaurants using wooden chopsticks that you need to break apart. And having such an invention serves a lot of benefits too, such as its weight, the price of it and so on. However, there are indeed rules you need to follow when using these chopsticks, especially in Japan. One of the things to be aware of is not to rub the chopsticks against each other. As it is made of wood, when you rub them against each other, a lot of the wooden flakes will come off, and that is definitely not the cleanest thing especially on a dining table

7, Don’t blow your nose in a restaurant.

七，不要再餐厅擤鼻涕。

Japanese are very aware of hygiene, explains why you can hardly see any rubbish on the ground, or how unbelievably clean their washrooms are. When it comes to a place to eat, they take it even more seriously because it is something that goes into your body. There are many unspoken rules about staying hygienic in a Japanese restaurant, and one of it would be blowing your nose. You’ll never know what contagious diseases can exist that passes through the air, so just prevent doing it at all, not just in a Japanese restaurant.

8, Don’t stab the food with your chopstick.

八，不要用筷子刺食物。

There are times when we are in a restaurant, we tend to stab out food to make sure they are cooked through and are edible. However, try to avoid doing that in a Japanese restaurant especially in Japan. By doing this you will make them think that the food is not delicious and they might take it the offensive way. Japanese are very precise at their work, and they will make sure their cooking is definitely edible in any way, even sashimi. 

9, Avoid spitting, use your chopstick or hand to remove food from your mouth.

九，避免吐食物，用筷子或手把食物取出来。

It is normal to want to spit out any bones or unwanted pieces of food, however, Japanese thinks the gesture is just plain rude and unhygienic, especially when there are other customers sitting beside you and might just saw you did that. Instead of spitting out food, try to either use a chopstick to take the food from your mouth or use your hand to pick out any bones. 

10, Eat sushi in one whole bite.

十，一口把寿司吃进嘴里。

Sushi is one of the most delicious food in the world and is most likely enjoyed by people all around the world. They come in different combinations and sizes, and though some can come in a huge size, try to avoid biting them off into pieces. If possible eat it as a whole. Sushi is meant to be enjoyed as a whole anyway, that’s why they are all wrapped up in one little piece of food. 

11, Place your money on the tray instead of passing the money directly.

十一，把钱放在盘上，不要直接给服务员。

One thing to know about paying the bill in Japan is to never pass the money directly to the cashier. It is a rude gesture for them. The right way to pay is to place your money on a tray provided and pass them the tray. This will seem less demanding and obviously to them it is a polite manner.

12, Never leave tips.

十二，不要留下小费。

Although in most parts of the world, leaving tips is a nice gesture, sometimes even something you must do, like in America. However, the Japanese do not appreciate this gesture. If you give them tips, they see it the offensive way, as if you are telling them how little they are paid and that you “pity” them. So next time just save your money and tell them “arigatou-gozaimasu” instead.

As much as Japanese looks weird, there are actually some eating etiquette that they practice that should be applied in other parts of the world just as general etiquette. Anyway, with these list of things to take notice of, next time you know how to be a better tourist when you are visiting Japan.

"Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushed near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could."