［No.40］                         11/4/2014

       Chopstics Manners or Etiquette

　Chopsticks are indispensable to our daily meals. Although they are always on the table of the Japanese, manners also matter when using them.

　“The Cabinet Office Investigation in 2010 about Japanese custom about a meal and normative consciousness” investigated how to use chopsticks 1,820. men and women aged 18 and over participated. Seven uses that must not be done are mentioned and the participants were asked whether they feel the uses are unpleasant( uncomfortable) or not so much.　About 93% of people feel offensively about " Yosebashi寄せ箸, or pulling tableware near with chopsticks. The number of people who did “Yosebashi” was less than 10 %. On the other hand, with “ Kakibashiかき箸, attaching the mouth to drink from a bowl", the percentage of those who think it’s unpleasant is comparatively low at 60 %, with 40 % doing it themselves. And moreover, Watashibashi渡し箸, resting chopsticks on the bowl is done by nearly 50% and less than 50% feel it is unpleasant.

　Speaking of me, I do Hiroibashi拾い箸, Sashibashi刺し箸 and Kakibashiかき箸 sometimes. When I do, I am harshly scolded by my wife. So I don't continue carelessly. It will surely reveal your level of civility "お里が知れる”. There are manners and etiquette also in Western society; it seems that great care is taken and table manners must be observed.                                   (Asahi Shimbun Oct. 27)

                   Worried usage, usage done involuntarily

寄せ箸 Yosebashi : pushing bowls around with chopsticks ( pulling bowls near with  

                chopsticks ) -------very or a little unpleasant                    93 %

                               do often or sometimes                                      9.7%

拾い箸 Hiroibashi :gathering by chopsticks ( pick up or gather by chopsticks)

                               very or a little unpleasant                                92.6%

                               do often or a little                                             2.6%

移り箸 Uturibashi : move or passing food by chopsticks

                               very or a little unpleasant                                89.4%

                               do often or a little                                             9.8%

さぐり箸 Saguribashi : search or feel by chopsticks

                               very or a little unpleasant                                88.5%

                               do often or a little                                           15.1%

刺し箸 Sashibashi : stab or prick with chopsticks

                               very or a little ‘unpleasant                               80.4%

                               do often or a little                                           28.5%

かき箸 Kakibashi : rake in or bolt chopsticks (attaching the mouth to eata from a  

                          bowl)

                               very or a little ‘unpleasant’                              62.5%

                               do often or a little                                           39.4%

渡し箸 Watashibashi : resting chopsticks on the bowl (cross chopsticks)

                               very or a little ‘unpleasant                              45.4%

                               do often or a little                                          48.3%