Japanese Chopstick “Don’ts”

According to an article on Mashable, “Western foods,” like a breakfast of bacon and eggs, are eaten with a knife and fork, but, “In Japanese culture, chopsticks are more than utensils; they can be works of art.  It is common for families to have sets made of abalone or painted gold. Painted sets, which may include designs like cranes or cherry blossoms, are usually sealed with lacquer.”

Chopstick Etiquette

🥢 Saguri-bashi
To look for contents in a soup with chopsticks

🥢 Mayoi-bashi
To wander chopsticks over several foods without decision

🥢 Sashi-bashi
To pick up food by stabbing it

🥢 Neburi-bashi
To lick the tips of the chopsticks

🥢 Yose-bashi
To pull plate or bowl around with chopsticks

🥢 Hotoke-bashi
To stand chopsticks up in rice

🥢 Kaki-bashi
To shovel food into one’s mouth attached to plate or bowl

🥢 Nigiri-bashi
To hold two sticks together as one would grasp a knife to attack

🥢 Hashi-watashi
To pass food to another person, from chopsticks to chopsticks

🥢 Namida-bashi
To drip the sauce from the food or from the chopsticks

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia