When eating from shared dishes (as it is commonly done at some restaurants such as izakaya), it is polite to use the opposite end of your chopsticks or dedicated serving chopsticks for moving food to your own dish. Blowing your nose at the table, burping and audible munching are considered bad manners in Japan.
It is OK to eat nigiri-zushi (sushi) with your hands. Sashimi is only to be eaten with your chopsticks. Pick up the nigiri-zushi and dip the fish (neta) into your shoyu, not the rice (which will soak up too much shoyu).
Upon entering a restaurant, customers are greeted with the expression "irasshaimase" meaning "welcome, please come in".
"Irasshaimase!" the chefs are all yelling in unison the moment you enter their restaurant.
Finish What You Order
When dining omakase, finishing everything that's put in front of you is essential for good sushi etiquette; it's considered extremely rude, not to mention wasteful, to leave any of the pieces uneaten.
Tip your chef: The service fee is baked into the check in Japan, but in the U.S., a standard 20% tip is acceptable.
General Greetings
When you enter restaurants and shops, you will hear all the staff say "irasshaimase" to say hello to the customer. Don't be afraid, the staff don't wait for any reply, but you can say thank you with a nod and a smile.
You'll be given chopsticks with your meal, but if you're not comfortable using them, it's fine to ask for a fork.
After the meal
If you want to try Japanese, “domo arigato” is a polite Japanese expression for “thank you” and if you want to be more sophisticated (for a westerner), you might try “gochisosama deshita,” which loosely translated means “thank you for the meal.”
It is perfectly acceptable etiquette to request sushi without wasabi or with a reduced amount of wasabi. The ginger is there to refresh your palette after eating a fatty topping. If you eat too much of it, it will affect the flavor of the sushi.
By the way, saying, "Kon•banwa" (good evening) and "Arigato gozai•masu" (thank you very much) doesn't hurt either. The best compliment you can give to any sushi chef is to ask for Omakase - a chef's recommendation. This action confirms the chef that you trust him to give you the best.
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Pointing in Public. Pointing at people is rude in many cultures, especially when accompanied by a comment about their appearance. However, in Japan, pointing in public is considered rude even when not directed obviously towards a person.
Eat it all in one bite.
If you can't fit the whole thing in your mouth, that's okay, two bites will suffice. But, don't put the sushi down in -between bites. Once you pick it up, keep the unbitten piece on your chopsticks.
“You always eat sushi in one piece”, Miho says firmly. So there is no taking a bite from it and putting it back on your plate, or – the horror! – cutting it into pieces with a knife and fork (it happens). “If the piece is too big, you can ask your sushi chef to use less rice.”
Sushi can be eaten with your fingers or with chopsticks, so if you're not the best at handling these utensils, don't worry! Sushi is the ultimate finger food and you're encouraged to eat these delicious bite-sized pieces with your fingers. Eating with your fingers is considered more polite than the stabbing tactic!
Before eating, Japanese people say "itadakimasu," a polite phrase meaning "I receive this food." This expresses thanks to whoever worked to prepare the food in the meal.
About: Another Japanese thank you for the food phrase, gochisousama deshita is the partner to itadakimasu, but this phrase comes after the meal and is more directly addressing the people who cooked and served you the food. You're basically saying that you really appreciate it and that they gave you enough food.
Eat the sushi. Smaller pieces like nigiri and sashimi should be eaten in one bite, but larger American-style rolls may need to be eaten in two or more bites. Chew the sushi completely, allowing the flavor to coat the inside of your mouth. If you're drinking sake along with your sushi, now is a good time to take a sip.
The majority of Japanese except children don't carry their own chopsticks, however, you are allowed to use your own as long as you are comfortable. Anywhere in the world, one might feel strange to bring their own cutlery… It's best to ask restaurant staff before you start using your own though.
But perhaps the best tip is a happy “domo arigato” (thank you for the meal). Or alternatively, you could try to buy you and your sushi chef some sake and down it together. As with stores all across Japan, small money trays are used when paying for your meal. This is also true for restaurants.