Sometimes, the best way to understand the Japanese is to compare it with another culture. Korea may be Japan's closest neighbour, but the eating habits of the Japanese differ so drastically from those of the Koreans that you will be surprised! Through this article, you will come to understand how the Japanese demonstrate respect and extend hospitality at the dining table.
- Pouring of drinks
Both Japanese and Koreans love drinking and take the initiative to pour beer for their co-workers. However, the similarity ends here. While Koreans only offer to fill up their co-workers' glass when they have emptied it, Japanese people will be mindful of always keeping their co-workers' glass full to the brim. It is considered rude in Japanese culture if someone empties his glass without having his colleagues top up his beer.
- Eating of rice
Koreans usually eat from their rice bowl that is placed on the dining table as it is rude for them to hold their bowl. This is exactly opposite of the Japanese as they will pick up the rice bowl in one hand, hold their chopsticks in the other and bring the bowl close to their mouths while eating!
- Touching of soup bowls
Japanese people use only chopsticks while eating whereas Koreans use both chopsticks and a spoon. This means that Japanese people place their lips on their bowl to drink soup directly whereas Koreans use a spoon to bring soup to their mouths. So Japanese people might think of Koreans as unhygienic; Koreans might think of the Japanese as uncivilised!