Everyone knows that part of the fun of eating sushi is getting to use chopsticks. But did you know that the Japanese have a strict set of customs that govern their use? Before your next meal at Roka Akor, arm yourself with some knowledge of Japanese chopsticks etiquette to impress your dinner companions–and enjoy the added authenticity of your eating experience.
Chopsticks first came to Japan from China in the Nara period, between 710 and 794 BC. As in most other areas of Japanese culture, etiquette and tradition are very important to the dining experience, and chopsticks are no exception. Learning to hold the chopsticks, which you can do here, is just the beginning. Once you have mastered the technique, it’s time to explore some of those traditions and the reasons behind them.
Where you put your chopsticks during your meal is very important. Between bites of food and at the end of the meal, it is polite to set your chopsticks either on a chopstick rest or on the table (but don’t cross them!), never on your plate or across a bowl. Sticking your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice is taboo because it calls to mind incense sticks burning in sand–a common practice at Japanese funerals.
Another funereal faux pas is passing food from your chopsticks to someone else’s. This is because such an action would recall the act of passing bones of cremated bodies from person to person. No one wants to think about death during dinner time, so these customs make quite a bit of sense. It is also considered rude to bite your chopsticks or to use them to point or spear your food, which is understandable as well.
The list of chopsticks etiquette goes on, but there’s no pressure when you dine at Roka. We just want you to enjoy your meal–and perhaps provide your friends and family with an interesting dinner discussion topic!