10 Japanese Dining Tips

1. Japanese people always say words of gratitude before and after eating. Before a meal, the phrase is "itadakimasu", meaning "I humbly receive". Afterwards, it's "gochisosama deshita", which literally means "it was a feast".
2. Japanese families all tend to have dining tables and chairs in their homes but on more formal occasions meals are eaten on a low table around which people kneel. Men are allowed to sit cross-legged if they wish.
3. Soup is served in small bowls with no rim as soup is always 'drunk' directly from the bowl and not eaten with a spoon.
4. Nearly all meals are accompanied by green tea. Some people add green tea to their nearly-empty rice bowl to clear up any remaining grains.
5. Don't drink or eat at a formal event until everyone else does - usually after a speech or chant.
6. When taking food from a communal plate or dish, you can turn your chopsticks round and use the non-eating end to pick up the food and put it in your bowl.
7. Asthetics are important in Japanese cuisine. Admire the presentation of the food or the bowls/chopsticks at the table.
8. Most meals are started with hot flannels (o-shibori) being handed out. These are used to wipe your hands and men can wipe their face with them.
9. Restaurants don't usually have serviettes - people always carry small, cotton handkerchieves with them. Women put these on their knees and men don't.
10. Yes, Japanese people do often eat seafood raw and even still alive. Things like live squid are seen as a treat so it's fine to make a fuss about it (and they will understand if you prefer your food cooked).