Tips and Manners Necessary for These 8 Japanese Dishes Taught by Top Japanese Chefs

Japanese food (washoku) is a delectable cuisine filled with different flavors, ingredients, and even ways of eating. While the standard image of fish, rice, and miso soup isn't incorrect, the abundance of delicious edibles both on land and in the seas around Japan has given rise to a rich food culture.
During your stay in Japan, please try a variety of Japanese dishes, including those you might not have heard of before. However, different dishes have different etiquette and manners that may not be obvious upon being served. Below are some videos that introduce different dishes and the etiquette expected at the dinner table.

*This article was written in collaboration with USEN GROUP.  

1. Sushi

Sushi is a food that's well-known throughout the world. It wouldn't be too much to say that it's the food that's best representative of Japanese cuisine. However, eating high-class sushi involves manners that you wouldn't necessarily encounter in restaurants outside of Japan. Check out the video below to get an idea of what's expected of customers at a high-class sushi restaurant in Japan.

2-3. Sukiyaki/Shabu Shabu

These dishes are also very familiar throughout the world. There's even a famous song named Sukiyaki! However, they might seem pretty similar to people who aren't very used to eating Japanese cuisine. Check out these following videos to learn the differences.

4. Soba

Japan is also well-known for the noodle dishes like ramen and udon. Soba is another very common variant, made of buckwheat rather than wheat, and it comes in many different styles and flavors.

5. Eel

Japan loves their eel (unagi)! Unagi is considered so nutritious that during the hottest day of the year, Doyo no Ushi no Hi, you're supposed to eat unagi for strength. There are many ways to eat unagi in Japanese cuisine, so please watch the video below for some common ways.

6. Blowfish (Fugu)

Speaking of rare Japanese dishes, blowfish (fugu) is definitely one of the rarest. It can only be prepared by licensed professionals due to the fact that it's poisonous if prepared incorrectly! Fugu can be prepared in many ways, but all of them are considered luxurious due to the care and skill the chef must have in order to make it edible.

7. Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is one of the representative meals of Osaka, though there is also a Hiroshima-style variant that is made differently. Okonomiyaki is served with spatulas, though of course you're welcome to just place in on your plate and use chopsticks to break it into smaller pieces.

8. Kaiseki

Kaiseki is a Japanese full course meal which is presented beautifully and makes use of seasonal, regional ingredients. The dishes in kaiseki change throughout the year, but no matter what time you have it, you can rest assured your meal will be luxurious, delicious, and stunning to look at.

Which of these dishes stir your appetite? Please watch these videos before your trip so you can have a great time following Japanese customs and figuring out your favorite dishes. Savor Japan also has other videos featuring different types of meals and customs, so check out the website for more information to make your trip even better!

You can find SAVOR JAPAN’s videos here:

Japanese Dining Etiquette

Also Check:

6 Reasons to Use Savor Japan, a Gourmet Guide Website Helping Tourists Choose Restaurants in Japan

10 Tokyo Restaurants Offering Gourmet Meals for Less Than 5,000 Yen Chosen By a Popular Japanese Food Guide Website