Have you ever wondered how to set up a Japanese dinner table you go to a Japanese restaurant?
Though you may see a variety of color shades, sizes, and textures, you will quickly notice that these disparate parts are in perfect harmony.
Nothing is in the way or out of the way when it comes to the Japanese dining aesthetic. There is a place and a purpose for everything.
What defines this special setting? Continue reading to find out how you may include these features into your home eating experience.
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How To Make A Japanese Dining Table
Generally, there are 3 factors that define a good table setting: Meal, Chopsticks and Holder, Plates and Bowls.
1 – A balanced meal
Of course, the most important factor is what you eat! The health benefits of the traditional Japanese diet are well-known.
People usually serve meals in the form of Ichiju sansai, which means “one soup, three sides.” This is the perfect way of eating healthy, similar to the five food groups in the West.
The first part is soup. Traditionally, we think that eating soup will help fight illness. Thus, it is recommended to be consumed on a daily basis.
The other three “sides” are made up of a variety of foods, including starch such as potato or noodles, steamed or boiled vegetables, and fish or other protein.
Rice, like the pickled vegetables that usually go along with a dish, is a given staple of the meal. But it will not count as one of the sides.
Example of traditional Japanese cuisine (Source: Bokksu)
The chefs show food in a unique way.
From the view of the visitor: Place the rice on the far left, followed by the soup on the far right. Place the two “sides” in the tray’s back left and right corners.
Depending on the size and style of the dish, they generally put the third side at the back center or next to the other sides, as the image above shows.
Finally, place the chopsticks in the tray’s very front, pointing ends facing the left.
2 – Chopsticks and holder
Chopsticks are the most features of Asian cuisine, yet not all chopsticks are made equal. Chopsticks in Japan are shorter than those in China and longer than those in Korea.
Nippon’s version has a finer tip and is traditionally made of bamboo or wood with complex lacquer or engraved patterns.
In daily use, crossing one’s chopsticks over the top of a bowl is acceptable. But formal dining needs the use of rest or holder.
You can buy matching pieces in chopstick sets or shops, or get creative and use the season as a guide.
Find a little twig or flat rock in your garden, or shells with a natural cut on the beach coast. Nature’s simplicity can also easily decorate your meal.
3 – Plates and bowls
The art of Japanese meals is not only for the stomach but for the eyes as well. With its variety of bowls, plates, and saucers, all of which serve a different role, Japanese tableware meets this artistic goal.
The designs range from simple to complex, from wood to ceramic, yet they always follow the natural symmetry. Deep indigo blues, for example, are frequently used to celebrate the sea, which has played a significant part in their culture.
The soup bowl (often with a useful top), the stew bowl (for various simmered meals like curries), the rice bowl, and flat plates for fish or meat are the most commonly used items. We can use obon trays and placemats to serve, move, and present food. It also creates a welcoming feel for the customers.
Source: Cookly
Learn more about how to set up a Japanese dinner table here:
Dining Manners
Have you ever wondered why the tableside bowls always have lids on them?
The idea is culinary poetry. By keeping the food hidden, the cover gives it a mysterious feel.
The aroma of the dish is twice as powerful after you open it.
The fact is that the Japanese have somehow turned their how to set up a Japanese dinner table into an art form that is now seen as more significant to their culture than the food.
The idea of creating an attractive and lovely ambiance is highly charming.
When eating from small bowls, it is fine to take up the bowl with your hand and bring it close to your mouth.
However, normally, you should not pick larger dishes up. It is also polite to use the other end of your chopsticks or a dedicated serving pair for moving food when eating from shared dishes (as is typical at some restaurants).
In Japan, blowing your nose at the table, burping, and eating loudly are all considered impolite. Emptying your plates to the last grain of rice, on the other hand, is also a good manner.
So if you tell restaurants or the homeowners in advance about food things you do not like or cannot eat, they may be able to give you other options.
After you have finished your meal, it is traditional to return all of your dishes to their original positions. This includes replacing dish covers and setting chopsticks on the chopstick rest or in the paper holder.
Finish the meal with the word “gochissama deshita,” which means “thank you for the feast,” and express thanks not just to the cook but also to the ingredients you ate.
Dining etiquette (Source: TripSavvy)
There are some other basic rules you should remember to have good dining manners:
– If you’re having a course meal with a lot of little plates, make sure you finish each one completely before going on to the next. The Japanese think that this permits the diner to fully enjoy each dish’s flavor.
– Try to finish all of the food on the table as much as possible. Soup from ramen, udon, or soba dishes, on the other hand, does not need to be finished.
– Do not combine the rice with the other items when eating a rice bowl with toppings (tempura, teriyaki chicken, etc.). Only things like curries and raw eggs are allowed to be mixed in with the rice.
– It’s fine to slurp miso soup or noodles loudly.
– Aside from slurping, make as little noise as possible when eating. When dining, avoid tapping utensils together or speaking too loudly.
– Remember to leave a single mouthful of rice in your current bowl if you want more rice. This tells the server that you want more. When you complete your dinner and empty your bowl, it means you are full.
How To Set Up A Japanese Dinner Table: Frequently Asked Questions
1 – How Do Japanese Set Their Meals?
Typically, people will place most meal sets in front of them, with rice on the left, soup on the right, and the main course at the back.
They usually put more important food on the left, which is where the rice is.
2 – What is Japanese Style?
Following this style, they use soft earth tones, rounded edges, and flowing patterns to represent natural forms and colors. It results in a feeling of calm and tranquillity.
Instead of fighting of opposing nature, the décor style creates a sense of unity and harmony with it.
3 – What Do The Japanese Eat For Lunch And Dinner?
People like a variety of rice bowls and noodle meals for lunch. Ramen, soba, udon, and beef meat bowls, for example, are popular.
Many students and workers bring bento lunch boxes to school or work. Some think dinner is the most important meal of the day.
It can have everything from sushi to tori katsu, which is similar to a chicken piece.
4 – What does The Japanese Eat In A Day?
They eat a healthy and fresh diet.
Steamed rice, noodles, fish, tofu, natto, seaweed, and fresh, cooked, or pickled fruits and vegetables are plentiful but do not add too many sugars and fats.
It may also include eggs, dairy, or meat, though these items are normally only a tiny part of the diet.
5 – What Is Considered Rude When Dining?
In the US, loud slurping is impolite.
However, in Japan, not slurping is rude.
Besides, do not forget to eat the noodles with chopsticks.
Instead of bending your head down to go closer to your plate, you can bring your tiny bowl of food close to your face to eat.
Conclusion
The traditional table setting is impressive, and everything on the table is valuable. We have taken the effort to describe the different items that make up Japanese cuisine.
Today, you may go to any Asian store to get some lovely tableware for your table. We have also gone over basic table manners that you should follow when dining at a traditional Japanese table.
With all of this, we are confident you now know how to set up a Japanese dinner table and experience it right at your house.
Further Reading:
- What Is The Best Ofuro Japanese Soaking Tub?
- Best Japanese Whetstone Brands Shortlist
- What Is The Best Japanese Noren Door Curtain?
- Best Randoseru Brands (TOP 7)
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