Happy N. Chopsticks Day! Story about Chopsticks and Its Manner

Happy National Chopsticks Day! Do you know how to use chopsticks? If you do, let’s make some food and eat it with chopsticks to enjoy the day. If you don’t know how to use chopsticks, let’s try it today! I know it’s difficult but you’ll be proud of yourself the day you mastered how to use them! 

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As I grew up in the culture that uses chopsticks as the main cutlery, I don’t remember when I started to use them. Of course, I have years of training to learn how to use them…I don’t quite remember but I’m sure my parents made so much effort to teach how to use them. 

 

In Japanese culture, the skill of how to use chopsticks beautifully is one of the factors to know if the person is good or bad. As a lot of other cultures do as well, having a meal together is not only an entertainment event between friends but also an important event to build a relationship in a business scene…Well, the most challenging time is when you are invited to meals at your future wife/husband’s house. Your future parents-in-law are looking at your skill of how to use chopsticks with a hawk’s eye. Even if they look friendly and you feel accepted, there is an invisible judge paper on the table to give you a grade(and I think getting A hardly ever happens because the judge is super duper subjective.)

 

Today, there are training chopsticks available in the market, so learning how to use them is getting easier. Once you’re trained, chopsticks are not only your cutlery but also cooking tools especially when you’re cooking stir fry, noodles etc. 

 

<A Few No-No Ways of Using Chopsticks>

Stabbing food with chopsticks

Chopsticks are for picking, not stabbing. Do not ever stab your food (and your meal buddy of course.)

 

Putting your chopsticks on your plate/bowl While Eating

Putting your chopsticks on your plate/bowl means you’re done eating. If you’re still working on, please put your chopsticks onto the chopstick holder. If you’re eating at restaurant and don’t see any of it, fold the paper bag that contained chopsticks and make it on your own.

 

Don’t give/receive food directly between chopsticks

I think it’s only in Japanese culture because my Chinese housemate didn’t know that back in my college life, but holding something with both people using chopsticks only happens at a funeral. Having a meal together is supposed to be a happy event, so do not make a sad-moment-implying moment around the dinner table. 

 

Flipping your chopsticks upside down to give food or 

pick food from a sharing plate

Hehe, I sometimes do…because my grandparents used to do it a lot by saying “hey, this is good, wanna try?” We sometimes (…accidentally) do it because by thinking of the fact that the tip of the chopsticks had been already in our mouth, the chopsticks are considered dirty…but the other side of the tip hadn’t, meaning the other side of chopsticks are still clean. But, this is not acceptable use of chopsticks. If you want to give food to someone, look for serving chopsticks that have never been put in someone’s mouth. 

 

Drumming by using your chopsticks

My husband does it every time there are chopsticks. He drums as if chopsticks are drumsticks and bowls are drums and proudly plays them until all the food is brought to the table. This is only acceptable for small kids(and of course for a strict household, never allowed and it led to the punishment of no snack for the following day) 

 

Do you use chopsticks? If so, does the Japanese manner of using chopsticks sound familiar to you? 

 

Happy National Chopsticks Day to everyone!

 

<Other Food to Recommend by Using Chopsticks>

Okaka Bell Pepper

Kitsune Udon

Refreshing healthy salad! Wasabi Mayo Burdock Salad

Enjoy home cooking and your own creation of homemade food:)