Japanese manner

For this week’s blog, I would like to write about Japanese manner. There are lots of manners in Japan from daily life to business manner, but I hope this post will be efficient for you.
First, I would like to tell you about manners for eating. One of the manners while we are having meal is the way of using chopsticks. One example of taboo of using chopsticks is called “Sashi-bashi” (Stabbing).

This is regarded as a rude because it’s not only inappropriate but also rude to a cook because it seems that you check whether it’s boiled properly or not. Moreover, you spoil the arrangement of the food.

Another example is called “Watashi-bashi” (Laying down).
Please don’t lay your chopsticks across the top of a bowl. This is also taboo because laying down chopsticks across the bowl means the sign that you finish eating the dish, and it will be interpreted that you don’t like the dish and don’t want to eat it any more.

There is a manner when we use disposable chopsticks. When you use disposable chopsticks, please do not pull them left and right above the table like this picture because it will be regarded as childish.

The proper way is pull them up and down slowly like this picture.

In addition, when you finish having meal and don’t use chopsticks any more, you should put them back into the wrapper, and fold down the tip of the wrapper because it is a sign that the chopsticks have been used. If the wrapper is already folded down, you can just put the chopsticks into the wrapper.

In western countries, it is not good to pick dishes up, but in Japan, it is OK to hold dishes with the hand which is not hold chopsticks. For example, we hold bowls while we are eating rice or soup. If you don’t pick the bowl up, it will be regarded as a bad manner. We also pick up small dishes and “Donburi” (rice dishes with various toppings). When we eat sashimi (raw fish), we usually eat it with soy sauce and wasabi. Most Japanese people put wasabi in the soy sauce, but it is also bad manner because it will destroy the nice fragrance of wasabi. The proper way is that taking wasabi on the raw fish, and then, dip it into the soy sauce and eat it. It is also good to hold soy sauce dish with a hand.

Next, I’d like to introduce the manner when we visit someone’s house. There are some rules what to wear. For example, it is not good to visit someone’s house with bear feet, so you should wear socks or stockings even in summer.
In Japan, we have to take our shoes off when we enter a house. When you enter someone’s home, it is the manner to straighten your shoes by yourself. Some Japanese people tend to enter the house with back to the host because they try to straight their shoes, but it is impolite. We should step out of the entrance at first, and then, turn around, stood down and straighten your shoes.
If you are invited in a Japanese style room (Tatami room), you should take off slipper before you enter the room. It is good manner to avoid stepping on the cloth edges the tatami because the edge will become loose. If you are served “Zabuton” which is a Japanese cushion, it is rude to step on the cushion because it means you step the host’s hospitality. Moreover, it is also rude to change the position of the cushion because it means you refuse or don’t like your host’s hospitality.

Lastly, I will introduce the manner when we take elevator. When we take an elevator, we should not only push the button for open but also put one of hands on the door until everyone finishes getting on the elevator not to close and attack someone. We had better do so when we getting off an elevator too.

I think you will think that there are so many manners in Japan, and they are troublesome but I hope you will find them useful in the life in Japan. If you have an opportunity to use these manners, please try it!
This book about Japanese manners and has lots of useful manners. If you are interested in the Japanese manners, you can borrow the book in the library at Kansai Gaidai.