NEWS

Japan is a relatively “food” tolerant country, with many restaurants offering cuisine from many countries. However, some people in other countries do not eat certain foods due to religious reasons or beliefs.

It is well known that Muslims do not eat pork, but it is not simply meat that is NG, but also lard and pork bone soup. In saturated Japan, living a life avoiding pork is a challenging lifestyle.

There are more and more examples of people like vegetarians and vegans who restrict what they eat according to their specific beliefs and preferences. Vegans, in particular, do not eat eggs, dairy products, honey, or other foods, and do not use clothing or household items derived from animals.

Many foreign personnel are not sure where to find what they can eat and wear. It is kind to ask for advice from those around you as much as possible and set up a system to investigate together.

Even the smallest consideration by those around you can be very helpful to foreign residents.

I would also like to share something that you should know.


“Itadakimasu” and ”Gochisosama"

Before eating、 we say “Itadakimasu” and after eating, “Gochisosama.

In Japan, it is often considered bad manners to start eating without saying anything.

In other countries, religions, cultures, and other customs may require you to show gratitude to God before eating.

However, in Japan, “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisosama” are used to show appreciation for food and producers, and are customary in this culture even for non-religious people.

This greeting is extremely important.

Many manners are related to the use of chopsticks.

If you have not used chopsticks very often, you may have a hard time using them at first.

Furthermore, there are many manners related to chopsticks in Japan, such as “yose chopsticks,” which is to bring the dishes to the table with chopsticks, and “handing chopsticks,” which is to place the chopsticks on top of the dishes while eating.

While too much attention to chopstick usage may prevent you from enjoying your meal, it is a good idea to see and hear once about the minimum way to hold and use chopsticks and manners.

Lifting the bowl or utensil to eat

In Japan, it is common to lift up the bowl containing miso soup, rice, etc. to eat.

Not only in the West, but also in China and Korea, which are culturally close to Japan, it is considered bad manners to lift up eating utensils, so although it is a minority view worldwide, in Japan it is rather considered good manners to do so.

Noodles are slurped noisily

The culture of slurping noodles, like slurping beverages, is said to have started as a way to enjoy the aroma of soba (buckwheat noodles) and spread to other types of noodles as well.

While it is often considered bad manners to drink soup noisily in other countries, in Japan, people slurp noodles noisily.

However, making too much noise can be disturbing to those around you, so be careful not to overdo it.

How to call a waiter in a restaurant in Japan

When you want to call a waiter at a restaurant, many people in other countries make eye contact and raise their hands or call out when they see eye contact.

The same is true in Japan, where it is common to raise your hand or say, “Excuse me.

In a quiet restaurant, you should not call the waiter loudly. In a noisy izakaya, on the other hand, you should raise your voice to call the waiter.

Do not leave food or drinks unattended

In some countries in the world, it is good manners to leave food behind.

In Japan, however, it is basically not acceptable to leave food or drinks.

There are services that allow you to take home uneaten portions of food, but not all restaurants will do so, so be sure to order only what you can eat.


You may face food hardships in a country with a different food culture.

However, the food in Japan is considered to be among the best in the world.

Be assertive about what you cannot eat.

Also, observe how Japanese people around you eat and behave.

If you can do this, you are sure to be liked by Japanese people and make more Japanese friends!


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