The question didn’t come from a guidebook or a cultural lecture. It arrived quietly, somewhere between a bowl of steaming ramen and a pair of wooden chopsticks resting neatly on the table.
Are we eating the wrong way?
For many travellers, Japan is a country that gently challenges habits you never realized were habits at all. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the dining table.
The First Shock: Silence at the Table
In many cultures, eating out is a social event filled with conversation, laughter, and background noise. In Japan, the first surprise is often how calm and focused meals can be. People eat with intention. Phones are away. Conversations are minimal. Food is the main event.
This isn’t about being unfriendly. It’s about respect respect for the meal, the chef, and the effort that went into preparing it. The silence feels strange at first, but soon it becomes comforting, almost meditative.
Slurping Is Polite, Not Rude
One of the biggest cultural reversals comes with noodles. In many parts of the world, slurping is considered bad manners. In Japan, it’s perfectly acceptable and even encouraged.
Slurping ramen or soba is a sign of appreciation. It cools the noodles, enhances the aroma, and tells the chef you’re enjoying the meal. For travellers who have spent years being told to “eat quietly,” this moment often triggers laughter, hesitation, and eventually, liberation.
Small Portions, Big Satisfaction
Japanese meals often come in smaller portions compared to Western standards. At first glance, it may seem insufficient. But the balance is intentional rice, vegetables, protein, pickles, soup all working together.
Instead of one large dish, the meal is a collection of complementary flavors and textures. You leave the table satisfied, not stuffed. It raises a quiet but powerful question: have we been equating quantity with value?
No Wasting, No Rush
In Japan, wasting food carries social weight. Finishing what’s on your plate is a sign of gratitude. At the same time, meals are not rushed. Even a quick lunch is eaten with care.
This balance taking time, but not taking more than needed feels almost radical in a world of fast food and oversized portions.
“Itadakimasu” and “Gochisousama”
Before eating, many Japanese people say itadakimasu, loosely translated as “I humbly receive.” After finishing, they say gochisousama, a way of thanking everyone involved in the meal.
These phrases turn eating into an act of awareness. Food is not just consumed; it is acknowledged. For travellers, this ritual often sparks reflection on how casually meals are treated back home.
A Mirror, Not a Judgment
Japan doesn’t make visitors feel like they’re eating wrong. Instead, it quietly shows another way. A way where food is respected, portions are balanced, and meals are moments, not distractions.
That moment of culture shock wondering if we’ve been eating the wrong way doesn’t come with guilt. It comes with curiosity.
And long after the trip ends, it lingers. At your own dining table. In how fast you eat. In how much you serve. In whether you pause, even briefly, to appreciate what’s on your plate.
Sometimes, travel doesn’t change what you eat. It changes how you eat.
Originally written by: Times of India
Link to the article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/destinations/no-napkins-in-japan-a-reddit-question-that-sparked-a-cultural-reality-check/articleshow/126417152.cms
