I don’t want to give up on Matsuya. I hope they don’t give up on properly placing rice bowls. Where have Japanese manners gone? Or are they just outdated? Is there no one left to teach them? Isn’t there a manual for how to place rice and bowls in restaurants?
Matsuya Keeps Placing Rice on the Right
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It happens every time I go.
This is the way to treat a dead person.
The person next to me gets the correct placement (as expected). When it’s served incorrectly like this, I don’t want to go back. Can we just accept that this is because of the low unit price? Should we just let it go because that’s the kind of place it is? Is it okay because it’s Matsuya? That’s not the point; I don’t want to give up on Matsuya. I want to eat my rice properly and enjoy it.
It’s not an old man’s grumbling; it’s a matter of manners that someone should convey to Matsuya. This is unacceptable customer service in the dining industry. Many people may not even realize what’s wrong at this point. If so, it means that what was once common sense is not being passed down to future generations. I’m not lamenting the situation, but I do think it’s something that should be inherited as a matter of manners.
The Correct Placement of Rice Bowls and Soup Bowls
When serving rice to a living person, the correct placement is to have the rice bowl on the left and the soup bowl on the right. In Japan, there is an ancient practice of placing rice and bowls differently, signifying a separation between the worlds of the living and the dead (though the reason doesn’t matter, the rule exists).
The Placement of Bowls for the Deceased
The placement of bowls for the deceased requires special consideration. Typically, the rice bowl is placed on the right and the soup bowl on the left for the deceased. This reversal is based on the idea that the world of the living and the dead are inverted, showing respect for the deceased. Additionally, standing chopsticks upright in rice is considered bad luck, but it is the correct practice when offering to the deceased.
Person | Placement |
---|---|
Deceased | Rice bowl on the right, soup bowl on the left |
Living | Rice bowl on the left, soup bowl on the right |
Regional Differences and Manners
In Osaka and other parts of the Kansai region, rice is placed on the left and the soup bowl is placed further back on the left. The basic rule in traditional Japanese meals “Ichiju Sansai” (one soup, three dishes) is to have rice on the front left and soup on the right, but in Kansai, miso soup is often placed behind the rice.
Why Does It Get Served Incorrectly? Careless Handling
It’s common with foreign staff, but even Japanese staff often make this mistake. They might think they are serving it correctly from their perspective, but the person next to them gets the standard placement.
It makes me wonder if they are intentionally serving it incorrectly to me, but I don’t believe there’s any malice. They probably just don’t think about it at all.
Isn’t there a manual stating that from the customer’s perspective, the rice bowl should be on the left and the soup bowl on the right? I think it’s important to include diagrams in the manual so that both Japanese and foreign staff can understand.