22nd Oct 2012
Can You Use Chopsticks Correctly?
For many families in Japan and the rest of Asia, chopsticks are the main utensil for eating food at the dining table. Now Japanese people have been using them since they were small so not many would expect this but many have been incorrectly using chopsticks. According to a study (via Nikkei), about 30% of people aged 40-50 have been using chopsticks correctly. If they aren’t holding it correctly, how does one hold them then?
Well, many mainstream chopsticks are one size and the size of a chopstick can make it more difficult to manipulate them. Another reason many are not holding them correctly is the placement of the chopsticks in their hands. In Japan, not being able to properly hold chopsticks can bring embarrassment since it can reflect on one’s upbringing.
However, as the research shows, many Japanese aren’t using them correctly, so there is some leeway in terms of perfect usage. So take the time to practice! For everyone else, as long as you don’t stick your chopsticks in a bowl of rice or use chopsticks that don’t match (both have funeral connotations), they won’t cut you with a samurai sword. Check out the link below for more info!






