
Every place in the world has its own peculiarities, where you can find and learn about its culture in different ways. In fact, places that have an important legacy in the culinary art show to the world all their costumes, habits and feelings through their table manners. There are some countries that have different and interesting table manners to mention. Japanese and Peruvian Eating Manners are different in many ways; however, they show some remarkable similarities, too.
One obvious difference is the table and sitting. In Japan, some restaurants and private homes have low tables and cushions on the floor. These are usually found on tatami floors. In Peru, however, tables and sitting are similar to European Standard. There are tables and chairs with normal size. In some restaurants and private homes have wood floors accompanied with some specific decoration.
Other areas of difference between Japanese and Peruvian eating manners involve the distribution of the dishes and the action of making some characteristic sounds while eating. In fact, in Japan, it is not uncommon in private households and in certain restaurants to share several small dishes of food at the table rather than serving each person an individual dish. According to Shizuko Mishima, “It is a Japanese custom to make some slurping noises while eating noodles such as Soba, Udon, and Somen. People who eat noodles without a sound could seem strange in Japan” (“Japan Travel”). In contrast, in Peru, it is recommendable serving each person an individual dish. Besides, it is unpleasant make some noise while you are eating any kind of food.
In spite of these differences, these two apparently opposites table manners share several important experiences.
Both for example, have some words of gratefulness before and after finishing the meal. “In Japan, you say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") after finishing the meal”, according to Shizuko Mishima (“Japan Travel”). Similarly, In Peru, you say "buen provecho" when you leave a table or join one. This means "bon appetit" in Spanish and is a customary salute.
Not only in Japanese, but also in Peruvian cuisine offer a very large variety of dishes and regional specialities. In fact, they [Japanese and Peruvian cuisine] have a mixture and a range of flavors and colors. Sushi is so popular and important in Japan as Ceviche is in Peru. Moreover, the perfect combination between sweet and salty in dishes not only in Japan, but also in Peru is part of the one of the most important tourist attractiveness and motif of pride of both countries.
Japanese and Peruvian eating manners: different, yet alike. Although the two countries differ in many aspects such as low tables with cushions on the floor versus tables and chairs with normal size, and several small dishes of food versus individual and normal size dishes, they share more than one common experience. Furthermore, their differences probably contribute as much as their similarities toward the mutual interest the two countries have in each other thanks to the “Asian Free Trade Agreement – Asian TLC”.
“Japan Travel.” Japanese Table Manners. 27 Jan. 2010 < http://gojapan.about.com/cs/tablemanners/a/tablemanner.htm >









