A common gripe among foreiners living in Japan is that Japanese people frequently say something along the lines of "Wow, you're pretty good at using chopsticks". While it can be annoying to hear the same thing over and over again, and even if these words are sometimes ring as a canned compliment, sometimes the words are just a simple observation spoken out loud.
The way that I was taught (with tiny training chopsticks when I was 5 years old) was to grasp both chopsticks between the middle and index fingers as one would hold a pencil, with the tip of the index and the knuckle of the middle finger manipulating movement. What people don't understand is that not all Japanese ever learned how to use chopsticks properly.
It's not as obvious because you don't see them yielding them in two hands like a pair of daggers, and they tend not to spear their food. Sometimes you can see younger people holding a pair like a pre-schooler first learns to grasp a crayon. They make it work, but all the same they do not qualify as being "good at using chopsticks".
I think that this widely spoken observation also stems from difficulties encountered by some Japanese while using western silverware. I can't express how confused I was when I first heard a long-time Japanese friend look me straight in the eye and said "Wow, you're good at using the knife and fork, huh?" with a straight expression on her face.
Comments (1)
Try being half British and half Japanese. It's funny how most Americans don't use proper eticate when welding a knife and fork. The fork in the left hand and the knife in the right...is how it's supposed to be done. The funny thing is, that most Japanese that I see, actually know how to use a knife and fork "properly."
Then the rude south paw in me welding hashi in my left hand. I'd starve if I had to use my right hand.
I think that it's great when you go to an "Asian restaurant" (i.e. Chinese, Japanese, Pho, or any other restaurant that serves a rice dish) and people insist in using chopsticks. As if to prove that you have something to prove. Give me the plastic fork and I'll talk to you when I come up of air. And if you want me packet of Kimlan, it's yours, but don't hog the Sharacha. If there's a fork I use it. If there's a chopstick or two, I use it. If not, then look out Calcutta.
Posted by: scuba | March 30, 2005 2:45 PM
Posted on: March 30, 2005 14:45