Itadakimasu: Cultural Differences

Itadakimasu! Said before every meal, "itadakimasu" means "let's eat" and is the Japanese equivalent of a prayer. It is actually considered rude not to say “itadakimasu” before beginning a meal. Japan, like many Asian countries, has food that are exotic to the average American. The essence of a Japanese meal is rice, which is so important that the general word for a meal is “gohan”, the same word as rice. The Japanese also eat seafood and vegetables, as well as some meat, though meats are not eaten as often as they were introduced to Japan only about a hundred years ago (“Food”). In America, “sushi” and “Japanese food” are practically synonymous, but Japanese cuisine is diverse beyond the meals sold in the West.

In modern times, Japanese people

Three to four small dishes are served as side dishes-- “perhaps a small fish, grilled whole, a bowl of cooked vegetables and a portion of salad” (Downer 29). If there are guests, shrimp fried in tempura batter are also served (Downer 29). Rice, vegetables, pickled vegetables and fruits, and soup make up the main meal. Dishes are usually chosen to suit the seasons. For example, in winter the hot pot-like sukiyaki dish is served, especially around New Year’s. To eat sukiyaki, one dips thinly sliced beef into soup until it is cooked. While meat like sukiyaki is common, foods like barbecue, a common summer food in America, are not usually eaten. Aside from meats, the main things that the Japanese eat are rice, seafood, and vegetables. The main meal Americans know about, is, of course, the famous sushi. In Japan and most authentic Japanese restaurants, California rolls are actually not the most common type of sushi. There are many types of sushi, such as tamago (egg) or inarizushi, which is sushi rice wrapped in fried bean curds. Sushi is always made with vinegared white rice and often wrapped in seaweed or with raw fish that can also be eaten individually as sashimi (“Food”). Wasabi, or green horseradish paste, is used to kill germs that may be remaining on the raw fish. Ginger is eaten after every individual piece as a palate cleanser. Because raw fish is used in their meals, the Japanese shop daily so their food is as fresh as possible (“Food”). The Japanese dinner is a family gathering