This past winter I was fortunate enough to visit Japan—a place I’ve wanted to visit since I was 12-years- old. While I planned my trip several weeks in advance and researched all the places I wanted to visit, I forgot to look into one important thing: dining etiquette.

It’s something that can easily slip your mind when preparing for a vacation, but no matter where you’re traveling to its important that you learn all the customary dining practices. Many vary from the way things are done in America, and you don’t want to risk being rude or offend the wrong person—something I had to learn off hand with my first authentic Japanese dining experience.  That said, do your homework. But to get some insight into the Japanese eating culture, continue reading below.

Sushi

Ah sushi—one of the Japan’s signature dishes. While you’ve most likely eaten tons of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi at your favorite local Japanese restaurant, there is probably an array of sushi-eating no-no’s that you commit that you are unaware of.  While you’re rudeness isn’t something intentional, you want to refrain from doing these things when visiting the Motherland:

• Rub Chopsticks Together: When separating chopsticks, often Americans will rub each piece against one another to smooth out the sticks and get rid of any wooden splinters.  However, rubbing your chopsticks together indicates to the restaurant owner that his establishment is cheap and their chopsticks dingy. So if you must, do so discreetly. When picking up pieces of sushi from a communal platter or sharing with your date, use the opposite ends of the chopsticks to pick the pieces up (not the pointy ends you use to eat, but the flat head side).
• Eat Sushi in Half Pieces: America is the home of large portions, so sometimes it’s hard to stuff an entire piece of sushi in to your mouth that has 12 different ingredients in it. But in Japan, the pieces are appropriately bite-sized and you want to eat them whole.
• Mix Wasabi in Soy Sauce: Some people like to mix in their wasabi in their soy sauce, creating a soup-like mixture, but this is a huge no-no. Wasabi is to be placed directly on the fish. Also, if you want to dip your sushi in soy sauce, always dip it fish down—the rice will absorb too much sauce and distort the original flavor, which the chef will find highly offensive.
• Eat Ginger with Sushi: The side of ginger is there to serve as a palate cleanser, so you can truly taste other varieties of sushi. You’re supposed to eat it between each bite of different types of sushi, not on top of the sushi like a garnish.

Soups and Noodles

Even eating soups and noodles can be a little tricky, especially because the Japanese eat these dishes so very differently from Americans. For example, if your soup is not served with a spoon, do not ask for one—you’re meant to eat your soup with your mouth and use chopsticks to push solid pieces of food towards your mouth. Similar to when you were a kid and liked to slurp the left over milk from the cereal bowl, you’ll do the same with the soup. And yes, the word “slurp” was used correctly; slurping mildly is actually compliments to the chef. But do not burp. While most Asian countries consider burping a sign of praise, like Americans the Japanese find this rude at the dinner table.

Wrapping Up your Meal

When you finish your meal (and I mean all of it; it’s impolite to leave remaining food on your plate), it’s important that you let the waitress know by doing the following: place your chopsticks parallel to you on the shoyu dish. Then of course, say thank you (domo arigato).

Author: This guest contribution was submitted by Samantha Gray. Questions and comments can be sent to:  samanthagray024@gmail.com.