How to eat sushi at the restaurant

• 10/07/2008 - 00:00
• Author: Yuki Sakuma
• Japanese Cooking
• 0 Comments
• Read in IT

Sushi-ya are restaurants which serve sushi and they are very popular in Japan. If you want to try the pleasure of eating sushi freshly prepared by the Taisho (the cook), it is good etiquette to learn some rules. Japanese people excuse our etiquette mistakes because they know we are strangers, but this does not mean we should just ignore their rules and traditions; it is a complex ritual that starts early, just after our entrance and ends with the exit from the Sushi-ya.

    

In the video below you'll find the guidelines about how to behave in a Sushiya, which I'll briefly review here:

1) Before entering you must open the curtains using the right hand at an angle of 48 degree at 1/2 inch from the angle of the curtain, then push and enter. If you arrive less than half an hour before the closing time use the phrase "Mada Yatteru?" (Is it still open?).

2) Once inside, before take a seat we must ask the other guests if it's free or occupied, bowing and saying "Koko Yoroshii desu ka?" (Can I sit here?). Generally, the answer is "Yes, please".

3) There are no waiters or waitress in a Sushiya, you must ask the Taisho about food and drinks. If you're with another person (in example, two colleagues), the lower in rank pours the drink into the glass of the higher saying "maa maa maa maa". He who receives the favour answers with "Oh toh toh toh". If you are a couple, the woman pours the drink for the man first, then for herself.

4) When we receive the sushi we can start eating, but not before pouring 20 cc of soy sauce into the proper bowl. Then we take the sushi with the first three fingers, turn it and dip into the sauce (taking care the rice didn't loose its consistency). After that, bow your head backward of 45 degree and eat mouthful all in once. If some grains of rice remain on the fingers, you can lick them (just a little °_°) and clean them on the rolled towel next your seat.

5) After eating all the sushi you must thank the Taisho (even if it was bad) with "iia umai yo, taisho!" (it was good, taisho!).

6) If you don't know what to take, you can ask Taisho with "Taisho, nani ka wo susume wa?" (Taisho, what do you recommend?). It is very important to NEVER ask about the ingredients.

7) At the end of the meal take the agari tea. Agari means "Ah, Gari desu" (I'm full, I can't eat anymore)

8) After that call the Taisho and make the gesture of the X with the fingers, which means: "I can stay here no longer", then ask for the bill. The bill will be payed by the highest in rank and, if you are a couple, by the man. Obviously if you are between friends there will be a little "argument" about who must pay the bill, but will always be the highest in rank to "win".

9) Before you leave you must call the Taisho and say "gochisou sama mata kuru yo" (Thank you, I'll come again). While leaving, don't open the curtains with your hands, use your head instead.

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