Chopsticks or hands are OK
Many people may think that eating sushi with hands is the manner of eating sushi, but in fact, it does not matter whether you eat with hands or chopsticks.
In fact, however, there is no problem whether you eat with your hands or chopsticks. Eating with your hands has its own advantages, such as the fact that the rice is less likely to fall apart and the temperature of the ingredients is less likely to change if you eat with chopsticks.
When eating with your hands, the basic rule is to use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger to pick the fish from three directions.
However, it is good manners to eat gari with chopsticks.
Dipping the neta in soy sauce and turning the sushi on its side
The correct way to eat sushi is to put soy sauce on the neta, not on the rice. The main reasons for dipping the rice in soy sauce are that “too much soy sauce will stick to the rice,” “the rice will easily crumble in the soy sauce,” and “the rice will remain in the soy sauce dish and will not look good.
When eating with chopsticks as well as with your hands, it is easier to put soy sauce on the sushi if you lay the sushi on its side before grabbing it. Also, the correct way to eat sushi is to lay the sushi on its side so that you can easily return it to your mouth when you put it in your mouth, as described later in this article.
Putting the neta down in the mouth
Although it is not a manner of eating, putting the sushi piece down in your mouth makes it easier for the piece to hit your tongue, allowing you to enjoy the taste of the sushi more.
Of course, it is not a mannerly way to eat sushi, so you do not necessarily have to put the fish back in your mouth, but the sushi chef will definitely think you are a connoisseur.
It is bad manners to remove the neta and dip it in soy sauce.
It is also not good manners to remove the fish from the plate and eat it. If you do this at a high-end sushi restaurant, the chef may raise an eyebrow.
Gunkan (warship) with soy sauce on the cucumber and gari (pickled ginger)
As mentioned above, it is common practice to put soy sauce on the sushi by laying the sushi on its side, but for gunkan (warship) such as sea urchin and salmon roe, it is customary to put soy sauce on the gari (cucumber) as if you were applying it with a brush, and then eat the sushi after applying soy sauce to the sushi. Also, if it does not fall apart, you can use cucumber or other garnish to spread soy sauce on the sushi.
Always take a bite.
It is considered bad manners to “nibble” or “bite off” sushi or any other Japanese food. Therefore, the proper way to eat sushi is to always take one bite.
Also, it is Japanese food etiquette to break large items such as tempura and simmered dishes with chopsticks before eating them, but it is against manners to break sushi into pieces.
If you cannot finish the sushi in one bite, ask the person to reduce the amount of rice and try to eat it in one bite as much as possible.
When eating sushi, start with white meat and end with strong-flavored items.
This is also not a manner, but if you want to “enjoy sushi more” or “be thought to know how to eat sushi,” start with light-flavored items and move on to more flavorful ones.
This is because it is said that if you start with the strong flavored sea eel and big fatty tuna, it will be difficult to taste the light flavored sea bream and flatfish.
Therefore, it is not against manners to order conger eel or fatty tuna first, but it is not considered to be a common way of eating.
It is recommended to eat in the following order: white meat, red meat, light fish, eggs, shellfish, sea eel or eel, and makimono (rolls). In particular, it is said that “maki-mono is the signal for the end,” and that by ordering maki-mono, you are telling the chef that you are finished, and the more connoisseurs eat the maki-mono last.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Other sayings include You can tell the level of a sushi restaurant by eating it from the egg'' andEating from the yellowfin tuna is the connoisseur’s way of eating it,” but as I mentioned earlier, there’s basically no rule, so I like it. There is no problem if you eat them in that order.
Gari is eaten between sushi.
The connoisseur’s way of eating gari is to dip ginger in sweet vinegar and eat it in between. The refreshing spiciness and sweet-sour taste of gari allows you to enjoy the next topping without losing the taste of the previous topping.
Especially when eating something with strong flavor such as conger eel or sea urchin, and then eating something refreshing like whelk or flounder, you can enjoy the original taste of the fish by adding gari in between.
“Leave it to me” is not allowed, “Original” is OK
Omakase”means to have the retaurant choose some of the recommended items for you. Okimari” means that the topic may vary slightly depending on the time of year, but the topic is always given. Okimari” includes Tokujo Nigiri”, Kami Nigiri”,Matsu”, and “Take”.
Although it is very similar, it is not okay to order Omakase”at a sushi restaurant you have just visited. Even if there are seasonal items, if the chef doesn’t know what the person likes, he or she won’t know what items the person doesn’t like, so it’s not really recommended to order Omakase” all of a sudden.
Don’t take the geta off the counter
Geta is a wooden stand shaped like geta, which is also called a sushi stand'' orsushi moritai.” In recent years, various shapes have been used, but since the sushi will rest on top of this geta, it is good etiquette not to move the geta. The geta is placed by the chef himself in the perfect position for both the chef and the customer. Therefore, be careful not to take it off the counter or move it.
“Omakase” and “Okimari” are eaten from the left.
When you order Omakase'' orOkimari”, the sushi will be served neatly lined up on top of the geta, but the most common way to eat this is to eat from the left. The reason for this is as stated in “When eating sushi, start with the white meat and end with the flavorful toppings”, the sushi is placed so that the flavor becomes stronger as you go from left to right.
If the toppings appear in two rows, the one on the left in front has the freshest toppings.
Wasabi does not dissolve in soy sauce
Some people choose to dissolve wasabi in soy sauce because they think it’s too harsh to add it directly, but this is also bad etiquette not only for sushi but for Japanese cuisine in general.
Dissolving wasabi in soy sauce not only stains the soy sauce plate, but also removes the spiciness and aroma of the wasabi, so it is considered a no-no.
Eat the sushi as soon as it comes out.
It is also not good manners to leave the sushi on the geta uneaten for a long time.
If you leave it for too long, not only will the toppings dry out, but the taste and flavor will change as well.
While it is a connoisseur’s way to eat while having fun chatting with the chef, it is best to bring the sushi to your mouth as quickly as possible.
Don’t add too much soy sauce
Adding too much soy sauce to the toppings and rice is also not the way connoisseurs eat it. If you add too much soy sauce, you will lose the original taste of the toppings. Also, from the chef’s point of view, there is no doubt that he will be seen as a “customer who doesn’t understand the taste”.
Be careful not to use too much soy sauce
For the above reasons, it is also bad manners to serve too much soy sauce on a soy sauce plate. Using only a small amount will prevent you from applying too much.
If you feel like it’s running low, try adding more.
There’s no shame in skipping wasabi
If you don’t like wasabi, there’s no problem in asking for it without wasabi.
Wasabi is used in sushi to remove the fishy smell characteristic of fish. Therefore, if you don’t like the fishy smell or don’t like wasabi, please ask for it without wasabi before ordering or when making a reservation.
It is OK to use less rice.
I think there are some people who want to taste a variety of toppings but can’t finish all of them. In such cases, there is no problem in ordering less sushi.
Also, I think there are some people who don’t want to eat a lot of Shari because they are trying to lose weight.
On the other hand, it is bad manners to leave only the sushi rice, which is called “oihigi,” which I will introduce later.
“Oihigi” where you can only get the story is no good.
It is said that the number of people eating only the top toppings at conveyor belt sushi restaurants has increased rapidly in recent years. This is called “oibari” in sushi industry parlance and is considered bad manners.
Of course, it’s not a beautiful sight to see a table full of sushi rice at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, or to see sushi rice on top of a plate at a sushi restaurant that doesn’t rotate.
As mentioned above, try to eat as politely as possible, such as by asking them to reduce the amount of rice they serve.
sit at the counter
Sitting at the counter is a unique way for connoisseurs to eat. By sitting at the counter, you can eat while listening directly to the chef about seasonal ingredients'' andrecommended ingredients.”
Don’t use industry jargon
Just as every industry has its own jargon, the sushi industry also has its own specialized jargon. For example, Aniki” refers to old material, andOtouto” refers to new material. However, pretending to be an expert and spouting industry jargon is not something an expert should do.
In fact, if you use it incorrectly, you could end up embarrassing yourself.
It is incorrect to say “oaiso” when paying the bill.
Some people say oaiso” as a signal to pay, but this is incorrect.Oaiso” is an abbreviation for “I’m sorry if I don’t have your kindness.” It is originally a word used by the chefs at the restaurant, and not by the customers.
put chopsticks on chopstick rest
When placing your chopsticks while eating, proper etiquette is to place them on a chopstick rest. Placing them on top of geta or on top of a bowl of soup is called “watari chopsticks” and is considered bad manners.
If you are at a sushi restaurant and there is no chopstick rest, you can place the chopsticks on a soy sauce plate, but make sure to only place the chopsticks near the tips and do not let the entire chopsticks float.
Also, if you want to eat with disposable chopsticks, you can fold the bag that the disposable chopsticks came in and use it as a chopstick rest.
Bowls are available from the second half onwards.
As mentioned in “When eating sushi, start with the white meat and end with the more flavorful toppings”, ordering a roll is said to signal the end of the meal, and connoisseurs are also advised to order miso soup at the end of the meal. It is said.
Of course, just because you ask in the first half doesn’t mean it’s bad manners.
The bowl of food signals the end of the meal.
When you go to a high-end sushi restaurant in Ginza or other places, you can tell them your budget in advance so that you can enjoy sushi within your budget, but when you go on a date or have a meal with a business partner, you might say, I'm almost full of my budget.'' If Mr. Itamae says something like that, it's not cool. At that time, they will ask you things like,Are you sure you want to serve a bowl?” So if you are asked about a bowl, be sure to take it as a sign that your budget is full.
Order sake and snacks
There’s no rule that says you have to order sushi just because it’s a sushi restaurant. If you are drinking alcohol, there is no problem in ordering alcohol or snacks first. Rather, it is said that by ordering sake and snacks first, the chef can also consider the pace at which he or she prepares the sushi.
Remove watches and bracelets
It is good manners to remove your watch or bracelet when sitting at the counter.
The counters of high-class sushi restaurants are often made of a large piece of wood called a single piece of wood, and the counters are extremely hard to scratch. Therefore, be sure to remove your watch and place it on the counter or store it away to avoid scratching it.
Know what’s in season
Knowing what ingredients are in season is also the way to eat as a connoisseur. The fat content of fish varies depending on the type and season, and there are times when it is delicious and times when it is not.
Of course, you can order any toppings you like throughout the year, but you can enjoy sushi even more by mixing in seasonal toppings.
Don’t stay long even if you don’t order
This is not limited to sushi restaurants either, but it is not common for connoisseurs to stay forever even after they are full. If you stay for too long without ordering, other customers won’t be able to come in, and the chef won’t be able to take a break either.
After refusing photos
More and more people are posting photos of their food and the inside of the restaurant on social media and blogs, but it’s not good manners to take photos without permission. If a flashlight is used inside the store, it will be a nuisance to other customers, and if it is made public without permission, it will not make the store feel very good.
It is the minimum etiquette for a member of society to confirm the situation before taking a photo.
It’s OK to ask about the market price.
Many sushi ingredients whose purchasing prices can change easily are listed as market prices. In addition, for high-end sushi restaurants that are often used for entertainment or dates, the name may not be listed out of consideration for the customer.
However, it may be difficult to ask for something if you don’t know the price, but there is nothing wrong with asking for the price of something that is marked as market price. Of course, you can decline the order depending on the price.
wear a vest
Just as restaurants have dress codes, there are also appropriate attire for sushi restaurants. Especially at high-end sushi restaurants, many customers come not only to enjoy the food but also to enjoy the atmosphere, and wearing sweats and a hoodie can offend not only the restaurant but also other customers.
At high-end sushi restaurants, it is good etiquette to dress appropriately, including a vest.
take off your jacket
It is also bad manners to eat with your jacket on, not only at sushi restaurants. Be sure to take off your jacket before taking your seat.
Do not spread strong scents
Women especially need to be careful not to wear too strong a perfume. With sushi, you can enjoy not only the taste but also the aroma of wasabi and other ingredients. Depending on the ingredients, such as bamboo or yuzu, you can also enjoy other aromas in this dish.
However, if you wear a strong scent of perfume, not only will you not be able to enjoy the experience, but you may also be a nuisance to other customers.
No smoking either
Smoking is also a no-no from a manners perspective. Of course, some sushi restaurants allow smoking, but if the person sitting next to you doesn’t smoke, it’s best to refrain from smoking.
