Comments on: Don’t do this with your Chopsticks! http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/ About Tokyo for travelers, visitors, and residents. Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:22:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brooke http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Brooke Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:00:24 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-487 I'm surprised #2 wasn't explained, as it's the only one I've ever committed that actually caused an outcry. My friend suddenly shouted "My poor grandmother!" when she took the meat from my chopsticks, and when I was confused explained in funerals you carry a deceased relatives bones from their ashes, passing them along down a line of relatives by chopsticks (probably the only time people would cry if your chopsticks slipped). She felt guilty and sickened the whole rest of the night, and I have never done it again. #10 is offensive as well. I used to always do this, and I think I still do, but as long as you don't make a big show of it and don't do it to any senpai, I think it's not too big a deal. #8 is stupid. Japanese do that all the time. This should be specified; when at a pub, do not stick your chops into the group portions to find what you want, it's okay to do it on your own plant. But that's like picking up everything with your hands and then putting it back down... I have seen middle aged Japanese men do this a lot and it is a bit annoying. #3... who on earth would lick their chopsticks? That's gross, and in a cheap eatery like Yoshinoya just asking for a splinter. I’m surprised #2 wasn’t explained, as it’s the only one I’ve ever committed that actually caused an outcry. My friend suddenly shouted “My poor grandmother!” when she took the meat from my chopsticks, and when I was confused explained in funerals you carry a deceased relatives bones from their ashes, passing them along down a line of relatives by chopsticks (probably the only time people would cry if your chopsticks slipped). She felt guilty and sickened the whole rest of the night, and I have never done it again.

#10 is offensive as well. I used to always do this, and I think I still do, but as long as you don’t make a big show of it and don’t do it to any senpai, I think it’s not too big a deal.

#8 is stupid. Japanese do that all the time. This should be specified; when at a pub, do not stick your chops into the group portions to find what you want, it’s okay to do it on your own plant. But that’s like picking up everything with your hands and then putting it back down… I have seen middle aged Japanese men do this a lot and it is a bit annoying.

#3… who on earth would lick their chopsticks? That’s gross, and in a cheap eatery like Yoshinoya just asking for a splinter.

]]> By: manda http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-540 manda Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:14:37 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-540 The only one where i could see people actually beinf offended is #6. otherwise just replace chopstick with fork. same difference. not a big deal. The only one where i could see people actually beinf offended is #6. otherwise just replace chopstick with fork. same difference. not a big deal.

]]> By: The Toronto Traveler http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-115 The Toronto Traveler Fri, 16 May 2008 01:53:34 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-115 I've done 1, 3 and 8 before, but I don't do any of them regularly. Does that mean I can get off with a warning this time? O=) I’ve done 1, 3 and 8 before, but I don’t do any of them regularly. Does that mean I can get off with a warning this time? O=)

]]> By: Shane http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Shane Thu, 15 May 2008 21:33:46 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-71 bubble, you are right - eating rice grain by grain with hashi would be tough! Maybe they were just trying to prove that they could do it? bubble, you are right – eating rice grain by grain with hashi would be tough! Maybe they were just trying to prove that they could do it?

]]> By: bubble http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-70 bubble Thu, 15 May 2008 17:25:19 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-70 Once I saw a westerner using chopsticks to eat rice from a plate. He was picking the rice bit by bit and that was tough! Use fork and spoon will be good enough for that! Once I saw a westerner using chopsticks to eat rice from a plate. He was picking the rice bit by bit and that was tough! Use fork and spoon will be good enough for that!

]]> By: Jon - The DC Traveler http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Jon - The DC Traveler Thu, 15 May 2008 10:29:08 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-113 Guilty of #3. Guilty of #3.

]]> By: Ginza Natsuno - A Chopstick Superstore! http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Ginza Natsuno - A Chopstick Superstore! Thu, 15 May 2008 07:40:00 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-112 [...] are over 1400 types of chopsticks and 1,100 different ways to hold them? There are even rules about what you should and shouldn’t do with your chopsticks. The Japanese term for chopsticks is hashi and Ginza Natsuno is a store dedicated to everything [...] [...] are over 1400 types of chopsticks and 1,100 different ways to hold them? There are even rules about what you should and shouldn’t do with your chopsticks. The Japanese term for chopsticks is hashi and Ginza Natsuno is a store dedicated to everything [...]

]]> By: Shane http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Shane Thu, 15 May 2008 07:36:59 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-111 I think that we've all done #8 and maybe some of the others at one time or another. But best keep this list in mind if you ever get the chance to dine with the Emperor. ;) I think that we’ve all done #8 and maybe some of the others at one time or another. But best keep this list in mind if you ever get the chance to dine with the Emperor. ;)

]]> By: Mary Jo http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/2008/05/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Mary Jo Thu, 15 May 2008 03:03:30 +0000 http://www.thetokyotraveler.com/dont-do-this-with-your-chopsticks/#comment-110 Argh! I just got back from having Japanese food for dinner tonight, and I've afraid I was in violation of #8. I wanted less meat and more vegetables. Argh!

I just got back from having Japanese food for dinner tonight, and I’ve afraid I was in violation of #8. I wanted less meat and more vegetables.

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