Abu Dhabi: In Japan, dining etiquette has a very defined place in society, said Midori Sato, 44, yoga instructor living in Abu Dhabi. “It’s best that guests do not turn up very late, as it’s considered rude. They’re expected to take their shoes off at the entrance of the house, where slippers are provided.
“Guests are usually seated at the middle of the dining table, whereas the host sits at the end of the table. Guests are expected to remain at the table until everyone is done eating. They are also not expected to help with the table setting or with clearing the dishes. Rather, they are invited to sit back, relax and enjoy themselves.
Midori Sato, yoga instructor from Gifu, Japan. |
“The hostess brings the plates of food and the guest is served first. Prayers are said before and after meals. Before the meal, we say ‘Itadakimas’, meaning ‘I gratefully receive’, and after the meal we say, ‘Gochisousama desita’, meaning ‘thank you for the meal’.
“We usually ask the guests in advance about their food preferences, as they might not prefer raw food like sushi, which is among the common range of dishes offered, along with others such as tofu, tempura (fried seafood), nade (fish and veggies) and ochazuke (rice in green tea). Everything is eaten using chopsticks, however, if the guest is not comfortable with chopsticks, we provide them with cutlery.
“Food is usually served in small portions to avoid wastage. In the past, conversation while eating was subdued, but in today’s busy life, it’s good to chat but not in a loud tone. And, remember to not place your elbows on the table as it’s perceived negatively.
“At the end of the meal, we eat sticky Japanese rice in a bowl placed on the left-hand side and soy bean paste soup offered in a wooden bowl placed on the right-hand side, and eaten with or without chopsticks.
“When eating rice or soup, you are allowed to bring the entire bowl closer to your mouth so that you don’t spill any food. If you wish to share your food, you must first place a morsel of food onto a small plate and then pass it to another person.
“Never stick your chopsticks in a bowl of rice, as in the Japanese tradition it resembles the burning of incense sticks at a funeral. Instead, lay them on the chopsticks holder or at the edge of your individual plate.
“Guests should stay around for about an hour or two after their meal, relax, and have some tea and snacks.
“My family and I mix with many nationalities in the UAE, and have great respect for other cultures and like to learn about them. Around my friends — from diverse cultures such as Egyptian, French, Nigerian, Sudanese, Korean, Greek, Indian and Chinese — I also follow their table manners.”
(Asma Samir is a freelance writer based in Abu Dhabi.)
