By the title, you must be thinking “What do you mean, chopsticks in food? Where am I supposed to put the chopsticks?“ Hold on. The taboo in question is not about leaving chopsticks in the food while you are eating but rather, taking a pair of chopsticks and sticking or piercing the food. Within Japan’s social etiquette, this is considered disrespectful.
“Oh, but what does that mean? Why is it considered taboo?“
In this article, I will explain why, under no social circumstances, should one do this.
The reason you should not stick/pierce/insert chopsticks into food
Basically, the act of inserting a pair of chopsticks into food in a vertical position (especially in a bowl of rice) is considered inappropriate because it symbolizes a pair of lit incense sticks at a funeral. In fact, the act of penetrating utensils into food is seen as an offering to the dead at funerals.
This is something that is not only considered taboo in Japan but is also regarded as taboo throughout East Asia. In China and Korea, the act of sticking a pair of chopsticks and leaving them inserted in a bowl of rice is considered rude on social occasions as it is also seen as a way to make an offering to the dead.
Other things you should not do with chopsticks
Besides inserting a pair of chopsticks into food, it is also considered inappropriate to share a piece of food from one chopstick to another as it also relates to funerals. At Japanese funerals, fragments of the deceased’s bones are passed from one chopstick to another.
Placing utensils on top of your bowl during a meal tells everyone around you that you no longer want your dish. If you haven’t finished eating, then this can be rude as it may indicate that you did not like the food.
If the utensils are not disposable, place them along the left edge of your plate. Make sure they are placed together and do not cross. Try not to let your hand or the utensils go from plate to plate while you decide what to eat. It is better to take a little from each dish, rather than just what you always eat.
Usually, there is a lot of food available in a restaurant, so relax and grab anything if you can’t choose what to eat.
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