Why do japanese use chopsticks

Chopsticks are an indispensable tool when it comes to eating in Japan, and there are many rules and etiquette concerning proper chopstick use. While other countries, particularly in Asia, also commonly use chopsticks, there are some unique rules specific to Japan that you would be wise to know.

Keep reading to find out the dos and don'ts of using chopsticks in Japan so you don't make any accidental faux pas during your visit! Jul 24 Sep 09 Japan is one of the many countries in the world to use chopsticks as a dining utensil. It is believed that chopsticks were first brought to Japan from China in the 7th century and spread thoughout the country via the influence of Shotoku Taishi, a prominent politician from the Asuka period - In the following centuries, Japan developed its own culture around chopstics, and now there is a set of established manners and etiquette for eating with them.

In fact, there is even a specific word used to denote the things that you shouldn't do with chopsticks - "kiraibashi. This article will introduce 10 things to keep in mind when using chopsticks in Japan so as not to offend those around you. Of course, you don't have to worry so much if you are not that skilled at using chopsticks yet, as they can take a while to truly master. However, once you learn the proper manners of chopstick use in Japan, we urge you to do your best to follow them while in the country.

Holding your chopsticks like drumsticks and tapping on plates or glasses is called "tataki-bashi" and is considered very rude. In addition to the unpleasant clinking sound it makes, this act is also considered quite childish.

If you do that, Japanese really show their appreciation to you. I believe you have probably used chopsticks at some point in your life or thought about learning more about the art of chopsticks. So, today, I want to share some information with you, because I think not many foreigners will use chopsticks correctly or understand the Japanese chopstick etiquette when they are dining with their Japanese friends. In ancient times, chopsticks were only used in Japanese ceremonies.

However, it is also believed that chopsticks were used as cooking utensils to flip or grab foods that were being cooked in the cooking pots or pans, as well as eating specific meals, such rice or noodles. Japanese chopsticks are generally shorter than Chinese or Korean chopsticks. They also come in many sizes, which are even shorter than standard sizes, to suit woman and children, and sometimes made of colorful patterns.

Chopsticks in Japan come in many sizes, and if you would like to buy a pair for yourself, use this chart to help you to find the right size. Make a degree angle, using your hand, by stretching your thumb and index finger.

Place your thumb tip and index tip to the ruler, starting from zero. Measure the length between your thumb and index finger and times it by 1. The number you get is the correct chopstick length for you.

As a beginner or a starter, you might find the complexity of holding the chopstick correctly before you grip the foods with your chopsticks.

Not only can foreigners not hold them correctly, but many Japanese people might have the same problem. So, you are not alone. In fact, there are many ways of holding the chopsticks, though there might only be one proper way to hold it. It takes time to practice and discover the way you can grip the foods. In the picture below, you can see all the different ways of holding chopsticks in Japan.

You have learned how to hold the chopsticks, and it is always good to learn about Japanese chopstick etiquette. To be honest, not many Japanese follow these rules nowadays, but it is always good to know these golden rules to show your politeness.

Throughout history, chopsticks have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with another staple of Asian cuisine: rice. Naturally, eating with chopsticks lends itself to some types of food more than others.

The starches in these rices create a cooked product that is gummy and clumpy, unlike the fluffy and distinct grains of Western long-grain rice. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Live TV. This Day In History. It was believed that when a pair of chopsticks was offered to a deity, the chopsticks became inhabited by that deity.

When those chopsticks were used to eat the food that was offered along with them, mortal and immortal dined together. Unlike their Chinese precursors, of uniform thickness, Japanese chopsticks are tapered along their length. The chopsticks used for ceremonial purposes are tapered on both ends. Akira Izu explained when I visited his chopstick museum in Kyoto , "The gods said, 'One end is for you, the other is for us. This kind of ceremonial chopstick is still in use in Japan, today. One venue is the formal tea ceremony.

The form of the tea ceremony was crystallized by the seventeenth century tea master, Senno Rikyu, who prescribed a light meal before sharing tea. It is said that Rikyu would carve new chopsticks, himself, from a fresh block of cedar before his guests would arrive.

These had tapered, rounded ends and a squared off middle section so as to be held easily. This style of chopsticks still bears Rikyu's name and is used for the tea ceremony and in many restaurants.

You will also find ceremonial chopsticks used in Japanese homes during New Year celebrations. They are made from light colored wood, with a round cross-section throughout. It is common, at a big family gathering, for each member to receive his or her own set of these chopsticks to use throughout the holiday period.

Following the holidays these chopsticks are often taken to a temple and burned in a fire maintained for that purpose.