1.Japaneserestaurantsoftenprovideasmallhottowelcalledanoshibori.Thisistowipeyourhandsbutnotyourface.YoumayseesomeJapanesewipingtheirfaceswiththeiroshibori,butsometimesthisisconsideredbadform.Ifyoumustuseyouroshiborionyourface,wipeyourfacefirst,thenyourhands.Whenyouarefinishedwithyouroshibori,donotjusttossitbackontothetable:foldorrollitup.
2.There’snotabooagainstslurpingyournoodlesoup,thoughwomenaregenerallylessboisterousaboutitthanmen.
3.Pickupthesoupbowlanddrinkdirectlyfromit,ratherthanleaningoverthetabletosipit.Takethefishorvegetablesfromitwithyourchopsticks.Returnthelidtothesoupbowlwhenyouarefinished.Thericebowl,too,istobepickedupandheldinonehandwhileyoueatfromit.
4.Ifyou’renotaccustomedtoeatingwithchopsticks,askforaforkinstead.Whentakingfoodfromashareddish,donotusethepartofthechopstickthathasenteredyourmouthtopickupamorsel.Instead,usetheendthatyouhavebeenholdinginyourhand.Neverleaveyourchopsticksstickinguprightinyourfood;thisishowriceofferingsatfuneralsarearranged.Instead,restchopsticksontheedgeofthetray,bowl,orplatebetweenbitesandattheendofthemeal.Don’tpointorgesturewithchopsticks,orlicktheends.
5.Whendrinkingwithafriend,don’tpouryourown.Takethebottleandpourfortheotherperson.Shewillinturnreachforthebottleandpourforyou.TheJapanesewillattempttotopyourdrinkoffaftereveryfewsips.
6.TheJapanesedon’tpoursaucesontheirriceinatraditionalmeal.Saucesareintendedfordippingfoodslightly,notfordunkingorsoaking.
7.Amongfauxpasthatareconsiderednearlyunpardonable,theworstperhapsisblowingyournose.Excuseyourselfandleavetheroomifthisbecomesnecessary.
8.AlthoughMcDonald’sandHäagen-Dazshavemadegreatinroadsonthecustomofnevereatinginpublic,it’sstillconsideredgauchetomunchonahamburger(oranice-creamcone)asyouwalkalongapublicstreet.