Using chopsticks (Ohashi) is an integral part of Japanese culture. As well as being used in other Eastern Asian countries including Korea and China, chopsticks are an everyday essential in Japan.
Whilst in Western countries we are used to knives and forks, Japanese people instead use chopsticks to both eat and cook their food. If you are visiting this beautiful country, it is necessary to learn how to use chopsticks effectively.
This guide will be teaching you how to hold chopsticks correctly. Check it out!
Ohashi – A Brief History
Chopsticks in Japan are referred to as Ohashi. These unique utensils first originated in China around 5000 years ago before spreading to their neighbors in Japan and Korea.
Interestingly, chopsticks were not originally used for everyday practice. In fact, when chopsticks were first introduced to Japan, they were only used for ceremonial purposes.
Although chopsticks are used in China, Japan, and Korea, each country has different techniques for using them. They also tend to have different designs depending on where they originate from. Japanese chopsticks are typically made from wood.
They can also be admired for their fine finish, having the most tapered end.
How To Hold Japanese Chopsticks
For someone who isn’t from Japan or other parts of Eastern Asia, the thought of using chopsticks can be daunting. Chopsticks are far from easy to use, especially when you have used a knife and fork your entire life.
But after some practice, you will soon find yourself a natural. Holding chopsticks correctly only takes a mere 3 steps. However, outside of these steps, it is also important to work on your finger balancing and finger strength.
Only once this is mastered will you be completely comfortable and confident using chopsticks.
To hold chopsticks properly, simply follow these steps:
1. First, grab one of the chopsticks and hold it in between the crook of your thumb and ring finger.
2. Once your first chopstick is in place, take the second one and place it on your index finger, using your thumb to hold it in place. This should be positioned like it would be to hold a pencil.
3. To move and grip food, always keep the bottom chopstick still and use your first two fingers to move the top chopstick up and down.
The Rules of Using Chopsticks
When it comes to using chopsticks, there are a number of rules that should be followed. These rules are not only for your benefit but also to be respectful to those around you living in Japan.
It is necessary to learn about the culture, including knowing the dos and don’ts of chopsticks.
Never Use Chopsticks to Stab Food
If you are in Japan and have no prior experience using chopsticks, using them may be frustrating. In fact, you may find yourself messing around and stabbing your food to eat. Even if this is a joke, it is highly disrespectful of Japanese culture.
It is also considered inappropriate to use chopsticks to scoop your food, even if you are struggling. Both chopsticks should be used to pick up and hold food – and this process shouldn’t be made to seem less important than it is.
Avoid Crossing Chopsticks on Bowl
In the West, when we have finished eating, it is proper to place our knife and fork down neatly on our plate side by side and not crossed. In Japan, however, things are a little different.
When it comes to using chopsticks, it is important to avoid crossing your chopsticks over your bowl as a resting place. If you haven’t finished eating and place them on your bowl, servers will assume that you are all done and will take your bowl away.
Additionally, it is considered very rude if it looks like you have finished eating but still have food in your bowl; it shows that you were not satisfied with your meal. If you want to place your chopsticks down in between eating, place them together neatly on a chopstick holder.
Know How To Use Chopsticks With Sharing Plates
In Japan, it is normal to share large plates of food. This can be done either at restaurants or in people’s own homes. Traditionally, a large portion of food will be in the center of the table and everyone will get to choose what they want and put it onto their own plates.
However, it is very important to not use your own chopsticks to pick at the food. Using your own chopsticks is unhygienic and will not be looked at fondly. What you will instead want to do is use the communal chopsticks to prevent any cross-contamination.
Don’t Use Chopsticks as a Toy
Although chopsticks may seem unfamiliar and harmless, you should still treat them with respect. Don’t use chopsticks as a toy by drumming them on the table like drumsticks or putting them in your mouth to look like a vampire.
This is very disrespectful and inappropriate behavior.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to use chopsticks is one of the major parts of Japanese culture. If you are coming into the country, it is necessary to know how to hold them properly.
This is not only for your own benefit but will show respect. By following our steps above, you will find yourself using chopsticks with confidence.
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
