Free Choice: Meal Time

The act of eating is considered a bonding time in Japan. While many other countries partake in family meals, the Japanese culture has more regulations and customs concerning food. Family members usually sit around a table, either a Western style table with chairs or a Japanese low table with cushions, and share stories about their day or current events. This aspect is very similar to Western customs.

However, before and after a Japanese meal, you are expected to show your respect and appreciation for the food. Before eating, you say “itadakimasu,” which colloquially means “I gratefully receive.” This word is the humble expression of the verb “to recieve” (“morau”), which is used when describing your own actions in relation to someone of a higher position. Then once you finish eating, you say “gochisosama (deshita)” to signify “thank you for the food.” Families in the West may say prayers before a meal or informally thank the cook, but meals in Japan are seemingly more formal.

An average dinner made by my host mother: green tea, lo mein, soup, and sliced apples.

Compared to the Western style of eating course by course, during a Japanese meal, all of the food is brought out at once. The meal usually consists of one main dish, a fish or protein of some sort, and is surrounded by side dishes. These side dishes can range from rice, vegetables, soup, and so on. It is common practice to eat a little bit from each dish in some sort of order. As I quickly learned during my first few meals with my host family, my host mother thought I didn’t like a certain food if I completely ate one dish first, then moved onto another. Eating leisurely and balancing between eating dishes is an important key in Japanese dining etiquette.

Another meal by my host mother: green tea, fish, rice, soup, and vegetables with egg.

Of course knowing how to properly use chopsticks helps too. It is considered bad manners to share chopsticks. In the West, many people do not think twice about eating off another person’s offered fork. But in Japan, it’s better to place the offered food directly onto the other person’s plate. And if the main dish is noodles, don’t think twice about slurping. The louder you slurp, the more delicious you think the food is. That way you can show the chef your appreciation without even saying a word.