Table Etiquette for a Japanese Meal
In a general sense rules of etiquette observed at Japanese meals are the same as those at foreign meals, but the following points should be noted:—
(1) When various dishes appear together, for example
miso-soup, clear soup, chawan-mushi (a custard of egg and
fish or meat), the hot things should be eaten first.
(2) The lid of lacquer bowls containing hot food is
somewhat difficult to remove owing to the steam inside, so the
bowl must be held firmly with one hand and squeezed, while
the lid is taken off with the other and put upside down on the
table.
(3) Japanese food is usually cut up conveniently for eating,
so a knife is not necessary.
(4) Chopsticks are held as in the photos on page 28; that
is to say, the chopstick held between the first and second fingers
is the one that is moved, the other one being held steady
between the thumb and third finger.
(5) Some of the dishes are taken up in the right hand,
placed in the palm of the left, and the food is picked up with
the chopsticks held in the right hand.
(6) When the meal is over, all lids must be replaced.
(7) When chopsticks are taken from an envelope, they
should be put back in it after use.
(8) When no more wine is desired, the cup should be placed on the stand upside down.
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