One thing you always hear about Japanese people is how polite they are. Their social etiquette, albeit sometimes strict, is how they became well-known for their politeness.

I respect Japanese food culture because it discourages you from littering. Unlike the states, Japan is extremely clean thanks to the citizens. They all have a community mindset and keep the well-being of those surrounding them in mind. This isn’t something that happens overnight, but is slowly built upon throughout history. A rule that the Japanese has is to not eat or drink on public transport. This is seen as rude and causes a disturbance, making it something that is frowned heavily upon. Another rule is to not eat and drink while walking. At festivals, every food stall has a garbage bag for their customers, because it is customary to be stationed somewhere eating your food, either at the stall you bought it at or at an eating area. However, it is okay to drink at a drink machine, which is why there is a garbage bin for cans next to every drinking machine.

In my opinion, the most beautiful part is that this etiquette comes as common sense. Nobody disagrees with these rules and follows them diligently because they all have that community mindset. Along with these rules, there are also common phrases that Japanese usually say during a meal. Before eating, one would say “Itadakimasu,” which translates to “I humbly receive,” or more casually as “Let’s eat.” Once they are finished eating, they would say “Gochisousama deshita,” meaning “Thank you for this meal.” These phrases are signs of respect to whoever has made the meal.

To learn about Japanese food etiquette, read here.