Hello, I am Yoshi Tanaka of NILS Japanese language school. Our students asked us many questions about Japanesecustoms, traditions, and so on. Today, I would like to introduce a few of them about “food.”

Question: Why do Japanese people slurp when they eat noodles?
Answer: They think it’s a way to show their appetite and appreciation, even though it is often considered rude in other countries. Even during the elegant tea ceremony, guests are supposed to take their last sip with a brief slurp.

Question: Is it true that Japanese people did not eat meal until recently?
Answer: Yes, it is. Meat has only been eaten since the Meiji Restoration in 1868 when the emperor proclaimed a cultural awakening to catch up with Western nations. Until then, eating meat was prohibited due to Buddhist teachings, “Not to eat meat of the animal with four legs.” The first person to eat meat in Japan must have been very courageous because the superstitious believed eating beef woudl turn you into a cow.

Question: I was impressed by the display food in front of restaurants in Japan. What is it made of and where can I buy some?
Answer: It’s made of plastic and one of the places to buy it is in the Kappabashi area in Tokyo. But the prices are often ten times those of the real meals.

April 5th News, from NILS Japanese language school.