When you eat sushi in Japan, doing this is a real sacrilege!
The Land of the Rising Sun is known for its highly codified traditions and customs anchored in the life of the Japanese, starting with good table manners when eating sushi, a dish with ancestral origins that is an integral part of the culture and the history of this island country. If you go to a sushi restaurant in Japan or if you are invited by Japanese people to eat sushi, it is essential to know this rule of conduct which will show respect towards the sushi master (itamae) or your host.
Sushi is no ordinary dish. First of all, know that sushi is designed to create a balance between shape, texture and taste, which is why separating a sushi in two is considered a real sacrilege! Furthermore, it is rude to leave half-eaten sushi on the plate.
Sushi is eaten in a single bite, and yet it is common to see Westerners breaking the balance by biting into the sushi with their teeth. No, you don’t cut sushi in two or three parts, in the same way that you don’t separate rice from a slice of raw fish. Also, note that sushi prepared with fresh products should be eaten quickly after making it in order to preserve the authentic flavors. So, we hasten to open our mouths wide and take just one bite!
It should be noted that it is also customary to eat sushi with your fingers (well washed beforehand using a hot towel called oshibori at the restaurant). This is why it is easier to take just one bite when it is firmly wedged between your thumb, index and middle finger. But if you don’t like eating with your hands, chopsticks are tolerated. Hold the first chopstick firmly between your middle finger and thumb, then place the second chopstick between your index finger and thumb, at the lower third, so that it can move and allow you to grab the sushi.
Furthermore, when you put your sushi in your mouth, the fish should first touch the tongue and not the rice. Place it upside down to enjoy all its flavors. You will have understood, all these gestures demonstrate the respect we have for the chef and the rules of good manners to know when eating sushi in Japan.