chopsticks

[Smileydude]

in japanese restaurants I have caused a scene too many time trying to cut my food with chopstick. I have tried squeezing the food very tightly with the sticks, but then they usually slip and end up flinging the food somewhere other than my mouth. SOmetimes I will stab madly at it using one chopstick in each hand.

neither of these methods usually work to well, so i usually end up cutting the food with my teeth, which is not very mannerly.

With that said, could someone tell me how to cut with chopsticks, or is it not rude in japanese culture to cut with your mouth?

[CoolNard]

Try holding both chopsticks between both ur thumb and index finger, and ur middle finger, letting the the lower part rest on ur middle one. I usually use my index finger and middle finger to move one of the chopsticks to enable me to clench the food with ease. The thum just holds them stably in place. The other chopsticks stay motionless so whether im allowed to put food in my mouth or not via chopsticks wholly depends on my index and middle finger :P
hope that helped xD

[Maku]

Isn't that just gripping stuff?
I cut using my teeth when using chopsticks.

[EbonyVampiria]

the best thing you can do is practice at home, and it is not the best thing to stab food etc with chopsticks due to etiquette. So if possible avoid at all costs, also try being a little bit more gentle and relax that should help grip the food rather than it go flying across the room - or just put bowl to mouth and scoop it in :-)
Good luck!

[Smileydude]

so amy I ask without sounding rude, what are japanese table manners then?

[Kayame]

Originally Posted by Smileydude

so amy I ask without sounding rude, what are japanese table manners then?

YOu never stab your food with your chopsticks for one -.-'
You also never stick your chocksticks striaght up in your rice bowl. You lay it across the bowl.
When you slurp, that is a sign that you enjoy the food so that is allowed.
Never reach for foon, or any thing else.
If your eating with all the food in the middle, and people just pick what they won't and set it on their plates, you don't use the chopsticks that you eat with.
Never, ever, ever, ever stab you food so you can eat it becuase you can't use the chocksticks right.
As for cutting the food. Usually they have the meat and everything into bit size pieces, but if not, I guess you can just cut with your teach.
Oh, and when eating sushi, it is ment to be eaten in one but, so don't take small bite at it, you eat it whole.

[Kuroneko]

Also don't pass food from hashi (chopstick) to hashi. This is very bad, this is only done at Japanese Funerals where people pass the deceased bones around.

[Smileydude]

wait, so when someone dies they are dissected and their bones are passed around? please say I misunderstood you.

[Kuroneko]

Originally Posted by Smileydude

wait, so when someone dies they are dissected and their bones are passed around? please say I misunderstood you.

Most Japanese People are Buddhist and Shinto, In the Buddhist Religion the dead are cremated. In fact 99% of all deceased Japanese are cremated. As you may or may not know after a cremation there are bones left over. Afterwards relatives of the deceased pick the bones out of the ashes and put them in an urn using Hashi (chop sticks), they then pass the bones from Hashi to Hashi. This is the only time in Japan when it is ok for two people to hold the same item at the same time with Hashi. If you think about it it is not as bad as you think. This is way you don't pass food at the dinner from Hashi to Hashi, there is symbolism of death if you do, and In Japan thats a big no no.

[NekoNekoChan]

Why would you want to cut food with your chopsticks? Oh, and again, don't stab food, ever. Especially a bowl of rice. Don't even do it at your homecountry(chances are the cooks and workers will be japanese, and could very well be offended, disgusted by you)
And as kuroneko mentioned, dont pass from chopstick to chopstick.

As for table manners, theres this, and then there is:
Slurp, and try to slurp/eat in harmony with the others with you.
When eating sushi, do not put a ton of stuff on it. It is disrespectful to the chef.
Do not put stuff in your white rice. Disrespectful.
Also, thank the appropriate people before and after the meal.
Chopsticks go a certain way on the table but I don't remember which way. Also, if your in japan, and your in a place that does not have western sitting, sit according to your gender. Meaning, dont sit like a girl if your a guy, and don't sit in a casual way. I can't really explain the ways of sitting through text, so you'll have to get that info elsewhere.