Top 10 Habits You Must Avoid When Using Chopsticks
While we were children, we were typically taught how to properly eat in the dining table and practice good manners. You may find yourself breaking the rules of the dining table from time to time, but in Japan where proper etiquette is especially emphasized, it is recommended to be conscious of how you behave, especially in a country where social norms are different. Here are the top 10 habits or practices you should consider avoiding while using chopsticks.This is something that you should be more aware of, as we tend to point at things while conversing with someone. Pointing at a food or a person with your chopsticks is considered very rude. In fact, pointing at objects or people is considered rude in Japan. Instead, it is advised that you should wave at the object you are trying to point at.
You might have done this subconsciously - either with a fork, knife, or other utensil, but putting your chopsticks sticking up from a bowl of rice is not only considered bad etiquette, but bad luck as well - as it may evoke feelings of death. This is called tate-bashi. People usually provide a bowl of rice with their chopsticks up to Japanese funerals.
You may not be aware of how you hold or place your chopsticks, but forming an "x" shape with your chopsticks can evoke signs of death among people, as well as bad luck. If you plan to go to Japan and happen to have a peculiar form of holding chopsticks, such as holding them in an "x" shape, it's strongly advised to adopt a different yet more acceptable way of holding chopsticks while eating.
You may have also done this in your first times using chopsticks. However, this is considered impolite. This manner is also rooted from Japanese funerals, as the bones of the dead person are passed using chopsticks. Therefore it may evoke feelings of death. When considering to hand small portions of food to another person, it is best to do so with a plate.
Some people tend to have this habit when they are picky of choosing food. However this is considered bad manners. The same applies to touching the food with your chopsticks and not eating it. If you are a picky eater and want to try a variety of food, it is better to take a small portion rather than hovering your chopsticks as a sign of being indecisive on what to pick on.
This practice is more tempting if the chopsticks are of bad quality (e.g splinters of wood showing in chopsticks), but if the chopsticks are in good condition, rubbing the chopsticks together is considered bad manners as it can suggest that the chopsticks are "cheap". If you see splinters coming out of your chopsticks, then it's best to remove them using your hand.
This is called sashi-bashi. You may have done this as a child, but you may somehow find yourself poking your food subconsciously usually with a fork. If you tend to have difficulties picking up slippery food using chopsticks, you may be also tempted to pierce the food through in order to make it easier to pick up. In Japan this is considered rude, especially when it's done with one chopstick. Using a fork is more appropriate if you want to pick up slippery food with ease.
This is called yose-bashi. Sure you might be lazy and be tempted to drag objects closer with your chopsticks, but this is not only considered rude, but it's a clumsy way of bringing objects - especially soup, as you will risk spilling the soup and making a huge mess.
Honestly that doesn't sound easier anyway it would be hard to pull an object of a significant size.
We all learned not to do this by common sense, hence this is universally considered bad and childish manners, but even more in Japan. Children typically do this, but some believe that it will summon a spirit if it's done continuously. If you plan to arrive in Japan with children, make sure you teach them not to do this manner.
This habit is not a "must" avoid but it shows immaturity to other people.
It shows disrespect to the person who made your food. Placing chopsticks on top of the bowl shows that you're done with your meal, so if you are still eating but want to take a short break, it's best to put it in a chopstick holder
Reason is because you might subconsciously point at someone or something with your chopsticks, which is considered rude in the country.
This is also the same manner that children typically do. Not only that it is considered bad etiquette, but it also deteriorates the material made with the chopstick. If you're a clumsy eater you may have accidentally left a bite mark in the chopstick, but it is best to avoid doing so.