How do you eat Japanese food?

Question

Just a few hours ago, in a Japanese restaurant, they served shrimp tempura and california temaki and when I started eating the temaki using my hands (it's wrapped in a seaweed cone, so I saw no other way to eat it), my mom told me off and she said that I should eat properly. Apparently, you're also not supposed to stab the tempura with your chopsticks. Forgive my ignorance, but how do you eat Japanese food?

Answer 1

You are supposed to eat TEMAKI with your hands. Just hold the cone part with your hand and eat it. In fact, you have an option of eating all sushi with your hands. Even maki and nigiri, although not many people do, you *can* just pick it up from far side of the sushi and reverse it to dip, then bring it to your mouth. Some gormet do this in Japan, and the story goes, that is why sushi places will give you warm towel upon arrival to clean your hand/fingers.

To farther explain on eating nigiri-sushi, when you dip it into soy-sauce, you are supposed to dip the fish part of the sushi, not the rice. It is kind of difficult to do, with chopsticks, but rather easy (by flippig it upside down) by hand.

Your mother is correct on the fact that you are not supposed to STAB food with your chopsticks. You are supposed to sort of clamp your food in between sticks and bring it to your mouth. In Japan, kids stab foods. It is considered ill-mannered and juvenile to do so.

With that said.... we are in the United States, not Japan. I'd say, as long as you are not bothering anyone, such as eating with your mouth open or chewing loudly, enjoy your food in any way you'd like. I'd rather see people enjoy their meal, than be so concerned with the correct way that they don't enjoy it at all.

Answer 2

Traditionally, chop sticks are used to grab the sushi, tempura or what ever you are eating. However, many japanese restaurants will let you use a fork, if you are unfamiliar with using chopsticks.
I have eaten sushi with my fingers as well. My mother is Japanese and she has never told me off. It's hard to explain how to use chop sticks without bieng able to show how to hold them. Next time you are in a Japanese restaurant, ask your server the proper way of holding them. I believe that they will appreciate the effort to learning how to eat Japanese food traditionally.
One more thing, perhaps your mom should show you how to use chopsticks instead of telling you off, that would make more sense,.

Answer 3

Well, I have seen tons of people eat the cone with their hands. Unless your Mom is Japanese; I think she is wrong.

You do not stab food with chopsticks. Maybe get a pair of chopsticks at home and practice. Knowing how to use chopsticks it a very good skill.

Lots of people cannot use chopsticks and it is totally permissible to use fingers when eating Sushi and other Japanese foods.

Answer 4

I love Chinese food too, and agree with you that it is the most diverse and delicious of all cuisines. BUT Japanese food will always have a special place in my heart because: 1. Healthy, Japanese food makes all the right choices (fish>meat, rice>wheat, steamed>fried); 2. Japanese food makes you feel good and clean after you've eaten it (no dairy, msg, very little garlic); 3. I like the tastes of miso, dashi, shichimi, yuzu, and all the diverse ingredients in Japanese traditional cuisine, its new and exciting for times when I'm looking for something new!!!

Answer 5

i usually eat those stuff with chopsticks. If you dont know how to use chopsticks, there is a 'how to' guide to use chopsticks on the wrapper. or just simply ask for a fork or something.

Answer 6

This is exactly why I don't go to Japanese restaurants!

Answer 7

sushi that are small you can use chop stinks but the temaki use ur hands
http://www.users.on.net/~zoyang/BlogPic/temaki.jpg show that to ur mom

Answer 8

i think ah..yuh can uze spoon..fork...