Sushi Etiquette | Japanese Culture

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Sunday, 03 February 2008 01:42

Rest your chopsticks properly. If eating at a sushi bar, place your chopsticks in front of you, parallel to the edge of the bar, with the narrow ends on the "Hashioki" (a small item to rest your chopsticks) this is the most polite way to rest your chopsticks during any occasion. While it is not as polite to place them on the plate, if you do, place your chopsticks across your plate, not leaning on your plate, or haphazardly strewn across your plate.

Know Your Sushi

Know the difference between:

"Nigiri," (pieces of fish, shellfish, or fish roe over rice balls). Nigiri Sushi

"Makizushi" (rolled in seaweed)

"Temaki" (hand rolls).
Temaki

"Sashimi" (sliced/chilled raw fish without rice).
Sashimi

Picking Up Sushi

Use the fat end of your chopsticks to pick up sushi from a communal platter, or when serving someone else.

Never pass food from one set of chopsticks to another. During Japanese funeral rituals, family members pass bones of the deceased to each other by chopsticks. Passing food from one set of chopsticks to another mimics this ritual, and is therefore considered extremely impolite and offensive. If you must pass something to another person, pick it up, and place it on their dish, remember to use the fat end of your chopsticks. They can then pick it up with their own chopsticks.

Eating Sushi

Nigiri sushi:
Always dip your "Nigiri-sushi" upside-down in the Soy Sauce and eat it "rice-side up." Don't pinch it too hard with your shop sticks, and place it so the fish touches your tongue. (The soy sauce will cause the rice to fall apart.)
Sushi should be eaten in one bite if possible, but taking two bites is generally acceptable. However, don't put the sushi back on the plate if you bit it in half already. Once you pick it up, eat all of it.
Feel free to use your fingers as utensils. Wipe your hands on a damp towel, if they provide you with one. But generally, use your fingers for sushi, and use chopsticks for sashimi.
Clean off your plate. It is impolite to leave a grain of rice on your plate.

Ask the chef what's good, and let him pick for you, especially if it's your first time eating sushi. This shows your respect for what he does, and maybe you'll get a good snack. If you're in Japan, buy the chef a drink, like sake or beer, as a compliment.

Use Japanese

Learn a few polite Japanese words and phrases, like:

"Arigatou", Thank you. or
"Arigatou Gozaimasu", Thank you very much.

Before eating, say "Itadakimasu!" and when you're done, say "Gochisousama Deshita!" This is what Japanese say before and after they eat.

When asking for a waiter/waitress say "Sumimasen". This is the equivalent of saying "excuse me"

Sushi Ettiqutte Tips

If there is tea available, drink it with one hand holding it, while the other hand supports it from underneath. (Men don't have to do this.)

If there is sake for drinking or bottled beer, it is boorish to pour sake for yourself. Pour some into cups for others, and let your companions pour for you.

The purpose of the soy sauce is to flavor the fish, not the rice.

Word of Warning Whe Eating Sushi

Don't play with your chopsticks!

Use a scant amount of soy sauce. It is impolite to fill up your dish with excess soy sauce.

It's just fine to put a a small amount of wasabi on your sushi; likewise, it's fine to tell the chef (Itamae-san) that you don't want any wasabi. it will never be taken as an insult. Just use the phrase "wasabi nuki de kudasai." Some folks just don't like wasabi.

Don't expect the chef to handle the money. Have another employee assist you. People who handle the food never touch the money.

Don't ask for knives, as sushi is not that tough to eat!

Never stick your chopsticks in food, standing upright. This is rude, and resembles the incense at a funeral.

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Word of Warning Whe Eating Sushi

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