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There are numerous restaurants in Japan, and in order to enjoy a meal at any of these fine places, you must take a note of some Japanese table manners. Before you begin your meal in Japan, you say "itadakimasu" which means I gratefully receive. After you are done with your meal you say "gochisosama (deshita)" which means Thank You for the meal. It is a common practice at certain restaurants (e.g. izakaya) to share several dishes of food at the table rather than serving each person with his/her individual dish. If such a situation arises, you are supposed to move some food from the shared plates on to your own plate on your own using the opposite end of your chopstick. Chopsticks may be given to you before the food is served, or there may be special chopsticks that may be provided for the purpose. The proper usage of chopsticks is the most fundamental element of Japanese table manners. Some Table Manners in Japan that must be followed are as follows. You must not blow in your nose in public, especially at the dining table since it considered bad manners. It is considered good manners if you empty your plate to the last grain of rice. You must not talk about toilet and other deappetizing topics during or before your meal since this is not appreciated by most people. After finishing your meal, you must not burp since it is considered to be bad manners. Once you finish your meal, you must rearrange your dishes in the same way as they were at the stat of the meal. This includes replacing the lid of dishes which came with a lid and replacing your chopsticks on the chopstick holder or into their paper slip, if applicable. It is a Japanese custom to serve one another rather than pouring the beverage into one's own glass when drinking alcoholic beverages. You are also supposed to check your friend's cup or glass periodically and serve them once their cup gets empty. Likewise, if someone wants to serve you more alcohol, you must empty your glass quickly and hold it towards that person. It is considered bad manners if you become drunk in a formal restaurant for example in a restaurant that serves kaiseki ryori or Japanese haute cuisine, but the same is not true of other types of restaurants such as izakaya, as long as you do not disturb other guests. You should not start drinking until everyone at the table is served and the glasses are raised for a drinking salute, which is usually 'kampai'. You should also avoid 'chin chin' when drinking a toast because this expression in Japanese refers to the male genitals. For more information on Japan visit AsiaRooms.com
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