Continuing where we left off with Part 1, let’s take a look at some more tips that will allow you to take full advantage of your sushi bar experience:

Why Didn’t This Soup Come With a Spoon?

Some sushi bars and restaurants will give you soup (generally “miso” or “suimono”) but no spoon to eat it with.  While people in the west are generally accustomed to eating soup with a spoon, it’s perfectly acceptable in Japan to pick out the solids in the soup with your chopsticks and then drink the rest out of the bowl as you would a cup of tea.  Think of the solids in the soup as the appetizer portion that entices you to finish of the main course:  the broth.  Try practicing at home with your sushi set in order to perfect the technique.  Making a “slurping” sound while drinking the broth is considered acceptable in Japanese culture, but there’s no need to overdo it!

What’s the Deal With These Pea Pods?

I remember the first time that I was served this delicious appetizer in a Japanese restaurant.  I was pretty confused as to how I was supposed to eat them, but I was very happy when I finally did!  These pea pods are referred to as “Edamame,” and are generally served steamed with a light sprinkling of salt.  Some sushi sets will come with a dish that is specifically meant to hold edamame that you’ve made at home. To eat the edamame, simply pop out each individual pea and eat it.  The trickiest part (it’s not that hard) is removing the peas from the pod; if you’re not careful, you could send them flying all over the eatery.  Therefore, it’s best to simply put one end of the pod in your mouth and pop each pea out with your teeth.  Although this sounds like a really involved process, I can assure you that it’s very straightforward and the result is absolutely delicious.

How and When Do I Use These Chopsticks?  I Don’t Use the Ones That Came With My Sushi Set.

If you’re eating your own sushi, it’s acceptable to use your hands.  Don’t be shy!  However, if you’re passing the food to someone else at your table then be sure to turn your chopsticks around and pass the food with the non-eating ends of the sticks.  Many westerners are a little taken aback at the idea of eating with chopsticks for the first time, but with just a little bit of practice you’ll get it in no time.  Many a Japanese sushi set will come with chopsticks to practice with.

How Do I Use the Soy Sauce?

Do not simply pour the sauce directly onto the sushi rolls, as this is considered offensive to the chef who worked so hard to prepare these delectable creations for your palette.  Looking at it from this perspective, you can see how drowning the rolls in salty sauce is not a respectful move.  Instead, you should dip the rolls into the sauce lightly.  Make sure you dip them fish-side down rather than rice-side down:  Rice is revered as a rarity by many elders in Japanese culture as a result of historical food shortages, and as a result it is a culturally respected food that must be treated with care.  Keep this cultural fact in mind even when you’re eating at home with your own sushi set, as it will help you better appreciate the portion sizes and reasoning behind the ingredients.