Chopsticks (お箸) are omnipresent in Japanese society. Nearly every Japanese dish at home or at a restaurant is eaten with chopsticks. So if you plan on visiting Japan, you had better get familiar with these tools, as they will appear everywhere you go.

Chopsticks can roughly be divided into 2 categories; one-way chopsticks at restaurants and well-made chopsticks that are used multiple times. Cheap chopsticks are made out of wood and come in one piece; you have to break them apart before eating. Finer crafted chopsticks can be of material from wood, metal and glass to plastic. Nearly everyone in Japan owns at least one pair of chopsticks to use for eating at home.
Using chopsticks correctly is a difficult task at first but you get used to it over time. Hold the first chopstick like a pen by using your thumb, index finger and middle finger. The second one is jammed between your ring finger and the area between your thumb and index finger. Only the upper chopstick is moved while the lower one stays firm, making grab things fairly easy. Just keep practicing; you’ll improve every day.

As with fork and knife, there are basic rules to keep in mind while eating with chopsticks.
These are the most important ones to ensure you run along Japanese manners.
– If you are out with friends, don’t pass each other food with chopsticks. This is considered rude as it resembles a rite in which bones of a deceased are passed over with chopsticks by a monk.
– Don’t stick your chopsticks into your rice. This is extremely impolite because it resembles a grave stone or shrine with incense sticks.
– Don’t lick your chopsticks if there are any leftovers on them. This is considered dirty behavior resembling the eating style of an animal.
– The last rule you should keep in mind is to not stab food with chopsticks. Food should not be “harmed” before it reaches your mouth.

If you train your chopstick skills and remember the mentioned rules, you’re ready for the delicious and diverse Japanese cuisine.

About Asahi Nihongo

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