How to Practice Sushi Etiquette
Do you love to eat sushi? Here are some ways to practice proper sushi etiquette the next time you enjoy this delicious Japanese treat.
Steps
Proper chopstick placementPlace chopsticks properly. If at a sushi bar, place the chopsticks in front of you, parallel to the edge of the bar, with the narrow ends on the hashi oki (chopstick rest). While it is not as polite to place them on the plate, if you do, place your chopsticks across your plate, not leaning on your plate.
Use the broad end of your chopsticks to pick up sushi from a communal platter.
Maki sushiDon't pass food from one set of chopsticks to another. As part of a Japanese funeral ritual, family members pass bones of the deceased to each other by chopsticks. Passing food from one set of chopsticks to another mimics this ritual, and is therefore considered extremely impolite and offensive. If you must pass something to another person, pick it up, and place it on their dish. They can then pick it up with their own chopsticks.
Know the difference between "nigiri," (pieces of fish, shellfish, or fish roe over rice balls), "makizushi (rolled in seaweed)," "temaki (hand rolls)" and "sashimi" (sliced/chilled raw fish without rice).
Nigiri sushiAlways place your "nigiri-sushi" upside-down in the soy sauce and eat it "rice-side up." Don't pinch it too hard, and place it so the fish touches your tongue. (The soy sauce will cause the rice to fall apart.)
Sushi should be eaten in one bite if possible, but two bites is generally acceptable. However, don't put the sushi back on the plate if you bit it in half already. Once you pick it up, eat all of it.
Feel free to use your fingers as utensils. Wipe your hands on a damp towel, if they provide you with one. But generally, use your fingers for sushi, and use chopsticks for sashimi.
Clean off your plate. It is impolite to leave a grain of rice on your plate.
Ask the chef what's good, and let him pick for you, especially if it's your first time eating sushi. This shows your respect for what he does, and maybe you'll get a good snack. If you're in Japan, buy the chef a drink, like sake or beer, as a compliment.
Learn a few polite Japanese words and phrases, like:
Say thank you, or even better, Arigato gozaimasu (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zah-ee*-mahss) which means thank you very much.
Before eating, say "Itadakimasu!" (ee-tah-dah-kee-mahss) and when you're done, say 'Gochisousama deshita!" (Goch-sou-sah-mah-desh-tah). This is what Japanese say before and after they eat.
When asking for a waiter/waitress say "Sumimasen" (su-mee-mah-sen). This is the equivalent of saying "excuse me"
(Note on pronunciation: in Japanese, all syllables receive equal stress)
If you order a "teishoku" or set item which includes soup, ask to have the soup served with the sushi as an accompaniment, rather than before the sushi as an appetizer.
Tips
If there is tea available, drink it with one hand holding it, and the other hand supporting it from underneath, using two hands to hold the cup. (Men don't have to do this.)
If there is sake for drinking, it boorish to pour sake for yourself. Pour some into cups for others, and let your companions pour sake for you.
The purpose of the soy sauce is to flavor the fish, not the rice.
The Japanese words and phrases are optional; not every employee in a sushi shop will speak or understand Japanese.
Warnings
Avoid playing with your chopsticks. Don't play with chopsticksUse a scant amount of soy sauce, it's impolite to fill up your dish with excess soy sauce.
It's just fine to put a a small amount of wasabi on your sushi; likewise, it's fine to tell the chef (itamae-san) that you don't want any wasabi--it will never be taken as an insult. Just use the phrase "wasabi nuki de." Some folks just don't like wasabi, and the customer is king--or "god" as they say in Japanese "okyaku-sama wa kami-sama desu."
Don't expect the chef to handle the money. Have another employee assist you. People who handle the food never touch the money.
Don't ask for knives, as sushi is not that tough to eat!
Never stick your chopsticks in food, standing upright. This is rude, and resembles the incense at a funeral.
Always use even/matching chopsticks. People use uneven chopsticks to express sorrow and pass cremated remains (see #3).
2007-03-23 17:33:26
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answer #1
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answered by lanah5280 2
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the proper way to eat sushi is to first place your wasabi sauce on top of the piece of sushi. you then put your pickled ginger on top of the wasabi, and dunk the bottom of the sushi into your soy sauce bowl. eat the entire piece in one bite. you are not supposed to mix the wasabi in the soy sauce, nor are you to bite your sushi (it is meant to be bite size and eaten whole) and you NEVER stick chopsticks straight down into your rice. that is only done when you are offering rice to dead family members.
2007-03-23 23:20:19
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answer #2
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answered by riffers21 4
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sushi is the best ever!! after youve cut up all the ingredients and cooked the rice and rolled up the sushi in seaweed i suggest that you cut it into little circles lyk everybody else does and enjoy it with soy sauce or wasabi sooooo scrumptious mmm just making me think about it....... :D
2007-03-23 23:24:03
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answer #3
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answered by xxx_amber_baby.gurl_xxx 1
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very easy.
put some wasabi on the fish, then dip the sushi into soy sauce. (not the rice part)
2007-03-24 10:14:15
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answer #4
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answered by Jason B 2
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Dip it in soy sauce only. Soy sauce mixed with wasabi is for sashimi. Dip it fish side down too and eat each piece in one bite.
2007-03-23 23:17:25
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answer #5
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answered by Glory 2
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Use your hands, eat it whole, dip the fish not the rice in soy sauce.
2007-03-24 03:57:43
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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with chop sticks. usually wasabi sauce for dipping and sake to drink with it.
2007-03-23 23:17:31
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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With chopsticks?
2007-03-23 23:16:39
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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I always get mine ready cooked!
2007-03-23 23:18:47
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answer #9
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answered by snapdragon747 5
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As long as you make it look cool.. and be your self.. ur good... just eat.. man relaxx
2007-03-23 23:17:05
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answer #10
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answered by Zed 1
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