Japanese food etiquette, customs and taboos

The food culture of all countries is based on their traditional culture, so their food culture also contains many customs and taboos of traditional culture. When we want to eat Japanese food with the Japanese, we must know some simple Japanese food etiquette, customs and taboos in advance.

Don't talk about people's physical defects, such as being big, short, fat, bald, pockmarked, blind, deaf and dumb. Instead, call the disabled people physically disabled, and call the blind people whose eyes are not free people whose ears are not free. When Japanese people give gifts, it is very popular to give gifts in pairs, such as a pair of pens and two bottles of wine. However, when giving red envelopes to newlyweds, it is forbidden to give 20 thousand yen and multiples of 2. Japanese folks believe that the number "2" is likely to lead to the breakdown of couples' feelings, and generally it will give 30,000 to 70,000 yen. The color of gift wrapping paper is also exquisite. Black and white represent funerals, green is an ominous sign, and red wrapping paper is not suitable. It's best to wrap the gift in colored paper.

Japanese people are very particular about sitting posture. In the company, Japanese people sit in chairs, but at home, Japanese people keep the traditional habit of sitting on tatami. The correct sitting posture of tatami is called "sitting in front", that is, kneeling on the ground with your knees together and your hips pressed on your heels. Easy sitting postures are: "sitting cross-legged" and "sitting sideways": "sitting cross-legged" means crossing your feet forward and landing your hips, which is a male sitting posture; "Sitting sideways" means that your legs are slightly sideways and your body does not press your feet. This is often the way women sit. Nowadays, the younger generation who don't sit on tatami is gradually increasing.

Japanese people pay special attention to the New Year, and every year 65438+February 29th-65438+1October 3rd is a national holiday. The Japanese call 65438+February 3 1 "Great Dark Day", that is, New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, the Japanese call it "New Year's Eve". In the evening, they pray for the gods to send away the troubled old year and usher in a beautiful new year. This day is called "the first day". At midnight on New Year's Eve, temples in urban and rural areas will ring bells 108 to exorcise evil spirits, while Japanese people sit quietly and listen to the "New Year's Eve Bell". When the bell stops, it means the arrival of the new year. People leave their seats and go to bed, hoping to have a good dream. On New Year's morning, families sit around and tell each other about their dreams on New Year's Eve to test good luck or bad luck. The Japanese call the first day of New Year's Day "Zhengri". 1-3 is "Three Congratulations Day:". On Sunday, the younger generation must go to their parents' home to pay New Year greetings, and then go to relatives and friends' homes to pay New Year greetings. The New Year is still a "eating" festival, and people all over the world pray for good luck by eating their own food. On "Zhengri" day, the Japanese will have a big breakfast, including sugar, soba noodles and Tu Su wine. After that, they went vegetarian for three days in a row to show their piety and pray for good luck in the coming year. At present, most urban residents in Japan have given up vegetarian food in the New Year and eat hollow noodles instead, in order to wish them health and longevity in the new year.

Usually, after family members wish each other good health this year, they will drink Tu Su in order of age.

Eight taboos in using chopsticks. Japanese also eat with chopsticks, but they have eight taboos when using chopsticks: licking chopsticks; Obsessed with chopsticks: holding chopsticks, not sure what to eat, swimming around the table; Move chopsticks: after moving a dish, you should eat it, but don't eat it, and then move another dish; Twist chopsticks: twist chopsticks and lick the rice grains stuck to chopsticks with your mouth; Chopsticks: eat vegetables with them; Chopsticks: use chopsticks to pick and eat from the middle of the dish; Cross chopsticks: put chopsticks horizontally on bowls and plates; Pick your teeth with chopsticks: Pick your teeth with chopsticks instead of toothpicks. The Japanese are very afraid of the numbers "4" and "9". The reason is that the pronunciation of Japanese "4" is similar to "death", while the pronunciation of "9" is similar to "bitterness". Therefore, just as westerners taboo "13", Japanese people will avoid these two numbers in their daily life, especially when they are entertaining guests or giving gifts. It is said that hospitals in Japan generally don't have ward 4 on the fourth floor, and some theaters don't have rows 4 and 4.

Japanese people are forbidden to use the words "go", "return", "break" and "finish" in wedding ceremonies, especially when they get married, they can't use the words "leave", "repeat" and "many times". At the same time, Japanese people are also afraid to say things like "one after another", "one after another", "return" and "once again" when doing funerals.

When the Japanese send a letter, the stamps can't be posted backwards. Posting stamps upside down in Japan is a sign of breaking up. When loading a letter, you should also be careful not to let the recipient see his name face down after opening the letter.

In terms of colors and patterns, the Japanese are afraid of green and lotus. The reason is that green is unlucky and lotus means memorial service. At the same time, the Japanese are more disgusted with items decorated with foxes and badgers. Because they are symbols of greed and cunning. Japan is a country that values politeness and etiquette. In Japanese, honorific words, modest words, honorific words and simple sentences are quite complicated, so different people should use different expressions and words. Therefore, when dealing with the Japanese, we should not only keep our clothes neat and dignified, but also pay attention to whether our language is appropriate. In addition, the Japanese also pay great attention to some cut planes in their daily lives, give them some strokes in the fire, and peel the fruit with the blade inward, which means not to bring trouble to others.

Perhaps influenced by the west, the Japanese are very afraid of being asked about his salary. Young women are also afraid of being asked their names, ages and whether they are married. Therefore, when I am together that day, don't pry into other people's private affairs. In Japan, acquaintances rarely shake hands when they meet, but most of them bow to greet each other. Especially men and women generally don't shake hands. Because it is impolite for Japanese to touch other people's bodies. They think it is shameful for men and women to kiss in public, and hugs are not allowed. This is similar to our country, but of course it is very different from the west. Japan is known as the "land of etiquette", and it is a Japanese custom to pay attention to etiquette. When people meet, they usually bow to each other and say "Hello", "Goodbye" and "Please take care of me".

Japanese people attach great importance to exchanging business cards when they meet for the first time. Not only is it impolite to meet for the first time without a business card, but the other party will think you are unsociable. When handing each other business cards, you should bow first, and then hand them in both hands. After receiving the other party's business card, read it carefully to see the identity, position and company of the other party, and nod to show that you know the other party's identity. Japanese people think that business cards represent a person, and treat them as if they were themselves. If you take a business card and put it in your pocket without reading it, it is considered rude. If you want to participate in business negotiations, you must send business cards to everyone in the room and accept their business cards. You can't leave out anyone. Although it will take a lot of time, it is a way to show mutual friendship and respect.

When visiting a Japanese family, you should make an appointment with the host in advance and ring the doorbell to announce your name before you enter. If there is no doorbell in this house, don't knock, but open the sliding door on the door and ask, "Excuse me, is there anyone inside?" After entering the door, you should take the initiative to take off your clothes and hat, take off your scarf (but be careful not to wear vest or barefoot even in hot weather, otherwise it will be rude), put on spare slippers and give the gifts you brought to your host. When you sit in a room, it is polite to sit with your back to the door. Only under the persuasion of the owner can you move to a distinguished position (referring to the seat with various works of art and decorations in front of the niche, which is specially prepared for VIPs). Japanese people are not used to letting guests visit their houses, so don't ask to look around. Japan is particularly taboo for men to break into the kitchen. You must ask the owner's permission to go to the toilet. When eating, if you don't know how to eat a meal, you should ask the host for advice and turn chopsticks when picking up food. When saying goodbye, please ask the guest first and thank the host. When you return to your residence, you should call the other person, tell them that you have returned safely and thank them again. Don't forget to express your gratitude when you see your host again after a while.

Customs:

Japan's unique geographical conditions and long history have given birth to a unique Japanese culture. Sakura, kimono, haiku and samurai, sake and Shintoism constitute two aspects of traditional Japan-chrysanthemum and sword. There are famous "three paths" in Japan, namely, Japanese folk tea ceremony, flower path and book path. Tea ceremony, also known as tea soup (tea tasting), has been loved by the upper class as an aesthetic ceremony since ancient times. Tea ceremony is a unique tea ceremony and social etiquette. Nowadays, the tea ceremony is widely accepted by the general public. It is used to train attention or cultivate manners. Many schools in Japan teach various techniques of tea ceremony, and many hotels also have tea rooms, where you can easily enjoy tea ceremony performances. However, the Japanese tea ceremony was finally introduced to Japan from China during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. In ancient times, Japan had contacts with China. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, a large number of Japanese envoys came to China and were deeply influenced by China. The Japanese call "China is the hometown of Japanese tea ceremony".

The flower path was born as a technology to replicate wild flowers in tea rooms. Because of the different rules and methods of exhibition, flower patterns can be divided into more than 20 schools, and many schools in Japan teach the skills of various flower patterns. In addition, in hotels, department stores, public facilities halls and other places, you can enjoy the beautifully decorated art of flower arrangement. Taboo lotus, think lotus is a funeral flower. Avoid camellia, chrysanthemum is a symbol of the royal family.