Japanese Chopstick Etiquette: Common Faux Pas to Avoid When Dining

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive guide to Japanese chopstick etiquette, detailing various 'kirabashi' (chopstick faux pas) that should be avoided when dining in Japan. It covers specific improper uses of chopsticks, including agebashi (raising chopsticks above mouth height), araibashi (cleaning chopsticks in soup), and the particularly serious awasebashi (passing food between chopsticks), which is considered taboo due to its association with funeral rituals.