Yes! when you're eating noodles in Japan, it is totally proper to make some noise
while slurping them. No need to worry about your parents telling you to be quiet
and stop making music while eating. Don't try this outside of Japan, though.
Making noise while eating, any food that is, is considered a rude and impolite act by many.
But why is it accepted in Japan?
It is because the noise is a sign to show the cook how delicious the food is.
Instead of saying, "Hmm, delicious!" the Japanese show it by simply slurping them.
Anyone would admit that the hardest part of enjoying Japanese food are the chopsticks.
Although the custom is shared with China, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, Japan is the only country to use just the chopsticks to eat. The use of wooden chopsticks is unique to Japan as well.
Hashi itself tells a great deal about the characteristics of Japanese cooking. For one, the food is not intended to be cut in pieces after it has been placed upon the table.
Even if some cutting has to be done, the food should not be so tough as to
need a knife, but be tender enough as to be easily broken apart with chopsticks. Chopsticks have the merit of not interfering with the hotness or coldness of the food,
as well as having the texture of the food transferring directly to the hand.
It is also said that using chopsticks develops the dexterity of the fingers
and this in turn stimulates the brain (hmm!).
Okay, now that you know the importance of chopsticks to the Japanese and to it's cooking, here comes the final question.
When it comes to using the hashi to eat, there are certain taboos you must never do.
What are they?
Try to choose them from below.
The answer choices are...
1) Never give or recieve food directly to somebody else's hashi.
2) Do not draw up a plate of food toward you using the chopsticks.