Ohashi – Chopsticks for eating in Japan

Known as ” Ohash i” or ” hash i” (in Japanese 箸), chopsticks are the most used food utensil in Japan since they are used to eat any type of ingredient or food: udon, ramen, meat, salad, rice, etc. etc.

Like many other things, ohashi came to Japan via China. They are usually made of wood or bamboo, although there are also other materials such as plastic, metal, etc. It is said that in the Chinese imperial palace, the chopsticks used were made of silver to be able to detect the possible poison in royal meals.

The ohashi used in restaurants or when you buy take-out food from ” konbini ” are called waribashi (割り箸) and are practically used once and thrown away. They exist in different sizes responding to the size of each person’s hand. Many ohashi have circular grooves on the ends which help prevent food from slipping off. You can also find them in different finishes and models. The most traditional are made of wood or bamboo and have a lacquer finish.

There is what it calls ” Japanese Etiquette ” and which is famous for bullying lunchtime among Japanese friends/acquaintances but don’t worry! We have made a small guide in the following video on how to use them and the basic rules of education when using ohashi .

We hope you like it and help you enjoy eating Japanese food more!