Let's Party!
In Japan, drinking is a common way of socializing. The main reason is that many Japanese people are shy and don't always express their true feelings, so they need alcohol as a truth-teller to help them let go of their inhibitions and communicate with their hearts. I have had many unique experiences at such gatherings.
BBQ under the Cherry Blossom Tree
Students at Tohoku University Suzukage-dai (Suzukage-dai) campus quite often have BBQs, especially in the spring and fall when new students come to campus. I learned a lot about Japanese food culture at these BBQ events.
Dining Etiquette
One of the most impressive things was that when I was using chopsticks to share meat, I was reminded by Mr. Yamada that it was impolite to do so in Japan, and he later shared with me the etiquette and other rules of using chopsticks. Here are a few cultural differences between using chopsticks in Taiwan and Japan (the following translations are not professional translations, they are intended to convey the original meaning of the Japanese language, so please be more tolerant).
Chopstick Moves to Avoid in Japan and Taiwan
- Tatebashi (たてばし) もしくは仏箸 (ほとけばし): In Chinese, these can be translated as "Buddhist chopsticks", which are inserted into a bowl of rice. In Japan, rice offerings to Buddha are made with chopsticks standing upright.
- Moyobashi (まよいばし)：Chinese for "picking chopsticks", holding chopsticks over the table without knowing what to eat.
- (さぐりばし)：In Chinese, it can be called "探筷", which is a way of stirring a bowl of soup with chopsticks to check the contents. It's not a good idea to pick out only what you like.
- Sashibashi (指し箸, さしばし): Chinese for "pointing chopsticks", the act of pointing chopsticks at someone or something. It feels like you are blaming someone.
- Namidabashi (なみだばし)：Chinese for "tear chopsticks", the soup drips onto the chopsticks and then into the mouth. It can stain the table and other utensils, so avoid it.
- Tatakibashi (叩き箸, tatakibashi): Chinese for "knocking on the chopsticks", the act of striking chopsticks on cutlery to make a sound, or to call out to someone with that sound. It has been said since ancient times that hitting the chopsticks will attract evil spirits. In addition, this behavior will damage the tableware and the noise may cause trouble to the people around you.
- Neburi-bashi (舐り箸): Chinese for "licking chopsticks," the act of licking chopsticks with the tongue.
- 噛み箸（かみばし）：Chinese for "biting chopsticks", the act of biting the tips of chopsticks. Biting the tips of the chopsticks can damage the chopsticks and can be impolite.
Chopstick movements to avoid in Japan.
- ちぎり箸 (ちぎりばし)：Chinese for "chopsticks", a pair of chopsticks held in each hand, which are used to shred food like a knife and fork.
- Hashiwatashi (箸渡し): In Chinese, this can be translated as "passing chopsticks", which means to pass food from one pair of chopsticks to another pair of chopsticks. It is said that the same action is done when cremating the dead and exhuming bones, which may bring bad luck.
- 刺し箸 (さしばし): Chinese for "stabbing chopsticks"; to stab food with chopsticks. It looks like they are checking to see if the fire is burning enough.
- Watashi-bashi (わたしばし)：Chinese for "chopsticks on a bowl", to place used chopsticks on a plate or bowl. Use a chopstick rest. This means "I don't need it anymore".
- Yosebashi (寄せ箸, yosebashi): Chinese for "pulling chopsticks," the chopsticks are used to pull plates and other items together.
- Mochibashi (持ち箸, mochibashi): In Chinese, mochibashi can be translated as "chopsticks with the same hand," which means to hold the chopsticks in the same hand as the cutlery.
- Sakasabashi (さかさばし)：Chinese for "upside-down chopsticks," which are held upside down to hold food when you take it off the plate.
Special Dining Moves to Avoid in Japan
- Chewing with your mouth closed: Most people in Asia chew with their mouths open, but the Japanese must chew with their mouths closed for two reasons.
- Problems with eating: When you eat with your mouth open, it is easy to let the people on the other side of the table see what you are eating, and you will be regarded as having a bad appearance.
- Noise problem: When you open your mouth to eat, it is easier to make chewing noises, which will make people around you or your neighbors feel noisy.
- Elbows off the table: There are two main reasons for this.
- Prevent people from leaning on their shoulders and elbows, as this causes the back muscles to flex to the left or right, and the hunchback puts pressure on the stomach, thus hindering digestion.
- To the Japanese, this behavior is a way of showing that you are not interested in or do not want to face the food, the person preparing it, or the person sitting around it.
- Always pick up your rice bowl: In Taiwan, some people may be used to eating with the bowl on the table, but in Japan you must pick it up.
- Don't help others with their food: In Taiwan, it is sometimes customary for family members to kindly help others with their food, but in Japan, this is not to be done.
Trivia
As mentioned above, there are interesting differences in etiquette between Japan and Taiwan, which are also in the chopstick culture circle. Many Japanese people observe the way they eat and their manners when they first meet each other, so when you go out with Japanese people, pay attention to the above points and you will have a better chance of making friends.
For more information on chopsticks etiquette, please see the "Resources" section below.
Meet friends over wine
When I first joined the BBQ, I was a bit shy to talk to anyone. When I lit up the grill, a senior I didn't know came over to talk to me.
"Zero, right?"
"right, hello."
"You're a great reporter! I'm so impressed with you! Isn't Taiwan so beautiful? How long have you been in Japan?"
"Report? You mean... ah!"
I snapped back to the classroom report.
In my building dynamics class, the teacher asked us to share our research. Since I was a senior in college and did not have a thesis, the teacher asked me to introduce my country and school.
"English or Japanese is fine." The teacher told me that Japanese was too difficult for me.
Considering that my Japanese was not good enough, I hesitated for a while, but decided to introduce Taiwan in Japanese so that people could really understand. So, during my three-day vacation, I worked hard on my grammar books, searched for the best phrases, made slides, asked my seniors to help me make corrections, and practiced with the projector in the lab.
On the day of the presentation, I was very nervous. However, when I finished my presentation fluently, there was a round of applause from the stage, and my sisters were amazed at my progress and expressed their compliments one after another.
"Really? Thank you! It's only been a month, so I still suck at Japanese..." I responded.
"Seriously, I thought you'd been here for at least 6 months...that's pretty fluent!" He looked at me in surprise.
Afterwards, I had a very nice chat with him, and since he had to go to the professor for a toast, before he left, he was slightly drunk and said to me:
"How about Facebook? We'll have to take care of you when we go to Taiwan! I decided to go to Taiwan after reading your introduction!"
"Thank you for chatting with me. Remember to tell me when you come to Taiwan."
"By the way, here's a tip: the better your Japanese, the better your Japanese girlfriend!"
He left these words before he left, but they had a profound impact on me. In my interaction with him, I felt that even though there was little communication in class, we were all observing each other, and in the presence of alcohol, we let ourselves go and talked about everything.
Drinking to Strengthen Courage
As I continued to stand by the grill, preparing skewers for the seniors, a girl stood by.
"Want one?" I handed her three sizzling skewers.
"May I? Thank you." She smiled and took it.
"You're Satouken's Zero-kun, aren't you?" She asked.
"Yes, I remember you're from Kishiki-ken? I saw that you occasionally came to our research lab to see Wada-san and Nakata-san." I remembered.
"That's right! Your report was great, I've been to Taiwan three times and I love it!" I was a little surprised by her enthusiasm as she ranted and raved.
"This is the first time I've heard anyone say they've been to Taiwan, it's wonderful! I responded happily.
"I can't get tired of eating Taiwan 101's vibrating balls, Jiufen's scenery and shaved ice at the night market!" she continued. She continued to share her memories.
"And you like Hayao Miyazaki, right? I heard you say in your report that I'm just as big a fan of the Invisible Girl as you are!" She smiled.
As we chatted, I realized that she was from Kyoto, just like Mr. Murata, so it's no wonder that she had a special sense of intimacy in her conversation. In the middle of the conversation, I was joined by other students, and as my Japanese speed doubled, I couldn't catch up with her. I was sighing that I needed to improve my Japanese, but she seemed to realize that I couldn't keep up with her.
"I'm going to get a drink first." She said to the other students. （It's called "席替え".
"Zero-kun, come on." She greeted me, who hadn't read the situation yet.
Afterwards, we each poured a glass of wine and talked about how our experiments were going, etc. The topic of conversation within the TUT campus was really about coursework, experiments, reports, and seminars, but even though we didn't have a lot of vocabulary at that time, we could understand the Japanese language used in our profession, so we were able to pick up on the conversation. The BBQ is coming to an end.
"If you can, I'll exchange Lines and be your tour guide next time I'm in Taiwan." I said with courage. I said with courage.
"Can you really do it? I don't have my cell phone with me, I'll give you my ID." He said and left his ID for me.
"If you can't, come see me in my lab", she said and ran back to the lab to write her report.
Looking at her back, I snapped back to my senses, and suddenly I felt so crazy that I had to ask a strange girl for LINE for the first time through the power of alcohol, and I could also realize why most Japanese people love to drink alcohol in this kind of scene.
Trivia
After a few BBQs, I realized one thing:
"For Japanese people, English shows professional competence, while Japanese is the bridge between the heart and the mind."
After all, human beings still choose the habitual language to reveal their true inner thoughts, and I am glad that I chose to train myself in Japanese, which not only allowed me to make new friends, but also let more people know about Taiwan.
Related Resources
- Art Culture and History Stick Mana and Tubes (Smoking Sticks)
- Know the art of Mana! The way to set up your artwork
- The child's elbow is straightened out during the meal! Unexpected Reasons and Countermeasures
- Do you have any questions regarding the atmosphere of the Mana at the food table?
- Chewing sound is not a funk! Tone on Tatakunai no funk?
Message Center Feedback