Many people eat by taking a bite of the main or side dish, then eating a little rice, and then having a sip of soup straight from the bowl (soup isn’t usually eaten with a spoon). A little rice is saved until the end of the meal, when it is eaten with the pickled vegetables.

The Japanese diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world, and for that reason the Japanese have an average life expectancy far greater than the western world.

While rice is the staple food, several kinds of noodles (udon, soba and ramen) are cheap and very popular for light meals. As an island nation, the Japanese take great pride in their seafood. A wide variety of fish, squid, octopus, eel, and shellfish appear in all kinds of dishes from sushi to tempura.

sushi

Japanese food culture is not in any danger of becoming extinct. Those products are shared with other Asian countries, but also have their own special Japanese style and taste. Japanese cuisine is perhaps most unique for its fifth basic flavor, umami, which has captured the attention of great chefs around the world.

Best not greet a Japanese person by kissing or hugging them (unless you know them extremely well). While Westerners often kiss on the cheek by way of greeting, the Japanese are far more comfortable bowing or shaking hands. In addition, public displays of affection are not good manners.

In Japan, people greet each other by bowing. Most Japanese do not expect foreigners to know proper bowing rules, and a nod of the head is usually sufficient. Shaking hands is uncommon, but exceptions are made, especially in international business situations.

The most common ways to greet someone in Japan are:

1. Konnichiwa (Hi; Good afternoon.)
2. Ohayō gozaimasu/ Ohayō (Good morning [formal/informal])
3. Konbanwa (Good evening) Say Ohayō gozaimasu to your superior instead of Ohayō. And don’t forget to bow when you greet him.