Japanese Etiquette of Eating Sushi
Jun 10th, 2008 by Clare
Note: Photos are all taken with Canon EOS 400D DSLR
Last Saturday was a public holiday. I made some sushi for the fun of it. LOL! Well, there are a lot of different types of sushi available, such as Nigiri-Zushi, Maki-Zushi, Ura Maki, Gunkan-Zushi, Temaki-Zushi, Inari-Zushi, Oshi-Zushi, Sandwich Sushi, Hana Maki, Chirashi-Zushi, etc.
I made 2 types. First the Maki-Zushi (Sushi Roll) aka seaweed roll
I used local rice instead of sushi rice and hence the purple colour. The second type is the Ura Maki (Inside-out Sushi Roll)
Anyway, the proper way of eating sushi is not what we thought it is. When we go to the sushi outlet, we usually mix the soy sauce with the wasabi to be taken together with the sushi like this:
However, the proper way is to place some wasabi (green horseradish)
On top of the raw fish (sashimi). Pick a piece of sushi, dip the other side of the sashimi into Japanese soy sauce (shoyu), slowly chew the food to experience its exotic flavours. Do not blend the wasabi with shoyu beforehand. This would deprive you of the full appreciation of the fresh taste of the sashimi, not to mention it being a rude gesture in Japanese culture!
Eat the entire piece in a mouthful. To bite into halves would scatter the sushi while separating the sashimi from the rice dumpling would be inappropriate and especially wasteful if the latter ingredient is abandoned.
When using chopsticks, pick up the entire piece of sushi from a horizontal angle in one single movement. When using hands, place your thumb and middle finger on both sides of the sushi with the index finger pressing the top. Do not hold the chopsticks in your mouth for that is deemed ungracious in Japanese culture. When seated at the counter of the sushi bar, it is disrespectful to ask the sushi chefs for tea or towels.
Well, I didn’t know that until now! Some of you might say “So mahuan/mafan! I eat the way I eat it all these while ok liao!” Its culture, baby! 
Some friends went to Japan for a holiday and proudly claimed that they are influenced into saying “Itatakimasu” or something like that while clasping both palms together before eating or bowing every now and then BUT they never learn/know the PROPER way of eating simple Japanese dish like sushi! How ironic, isn’t it?
“Eat the entire piece in a mouthful” ??
My mouth not big enough le… how?
The sushi is not that big because it is supposed to be a small piece, enough for a mouthful.
this post confirms it..u r ready to settle down n do wonders in the kitchen hahahahha…piak..me and my big mouth
Walao eh! I don’t post about what I cook doesn’t mean I can’t cook lar.
Wah! Made sushi, didn’t give me. Not enuf friend lah like dat! So u ‘d better make some more to give me so i can practise the RIGHT way of eating sushi! LOL!
Next time lar…this time didn’t make enough, cannot give out. Hehehe!!
that wasabi in soy sauce…. looks…. :S
Wakakakakaka!!! La la la… that was done on purpose!
Interesting! I didn’t know that the proper way to eat sushi is to separate the soy sauce from the wasabi. I shall take note of this etiquette and use it in the future.
Good luck!
Heya there!
I just ate sushi just now (from the university union :P) and I mixed the wasabi and soy sauce together like what he does! I asked him to look at this post and he laughed and said `I’ve been mixing both all my life…I think only posh japanese do that..’ Anyway, looks really nice but might be better to make them ‘fatter’. Just my 2cents. Take care!
HI!!! Oh, enlightening! So meaning we normal people can continue mixing the way we have been mixing the wasabi and soy sauce all our lives then. Only posh Japanese do that, like what he said. Hhehehe! The sushi is VERY fat already, I cannot close my mouth with one bite!
Great info on the sushi etiquette! Will make sure to use this proper method in the future. Thanks for sharing.
p/s: Hello, first time commenting here.
Welcome welcome! Thanks for dropping by!
Just accidentally came across your very interesting and well written blog. Haha, I just had dinner at Sushi Tie with my overseas guests at Wisma Sanyan two nights ago, not bad, but of course can’t compare with those in Singapore or KL.
Thanks for dropping by! I guess you are a professional photographer. Just saw your blog banner, love the effect!
aww nice. can learn from you
too many rules lah! makan saja lah!
Hahahaha! No problem!
wah.. Must get use to the culture before I go Japan. *LOL* Thanks for sharing, Clare
Welcome! I found the information in my mum’s cooking book