Going to Japan next week and just cannot manage to use chopsticks. Do restaurants have forks available? I imagine restaurants in Tokyo might have them but how about smaller towns? Can I bring rubber bands and put the chopsticks together that way? I don't want to look stupid but I do want to manage to eat.<BR>I leave next Thursday for 2 weeks. Can't wait!!!!!

Rubber band and chopsticks - I've only seen that done for infants <BR><BR>Most restaurants have forks and knives or you could even cary your own if you're really afraid! I would take my time and learn to use chotsticks as it add to the enjoyment of eating.<BR><BR>Funny post!

Bonjour Martha,<BR><BR>Bigger restaurants in touristy areas (that is, areas where non-Japanese tourists go) will have forks. Some of the others and the more traditional will bring you a fork if you ask, but you'll get funny looks. I suspect it is because you deprive the locals of a good laugh, they enjoy seeing a gaijin spilling his/her noodles around - sometimes you can see a whole restaurant staring at a foreigner, and being disappointed when said foreigner shows good skills, then complimenting him/her "j&ocirc;su desu ne" and even sometimes buying them a drink (it happened to me on a few occasions. I even had remarks to the effect that it was not normal that I was so skilled. I had to tell them it was because there were lots of chinese restaurants in my country). If you receive chopsticks in a curry restaurant, the owner is pulling your leg (hint: you eat curry with a spoon).<BR><BR>Your best bet is to persevere with chopsticks, or to stick to western restaurants ;-)

Hanumun,<BR>Please explain how using chopsticks adds to the enjoyment of eating. As you might have guessed, I never did learn to manipulate chopsticks very well, but that notwithstanding, I can't imagine that using chopsticks would make for a more enjoyable meal than being able to cut your food with a knife and lift it to your mouth with a fork.<BR><BR>Martha, I encountered only a couple of restaurants during my trips to China that did not provide western-style utensils when requested.

Hi Les,<BR><BR>Most Oriental food are prepared or presented with chopsticks in mind. Steaks in Japan are usually cut up when served so that everything is bite size. Rice is just sticky enough so that you will be able to easily eat it with chopsticks. Only the Thais eat rice with a spoon and fork but they eat noodles with chopsticks and "Chinese" spoons!<BR><BR>So if you sit down to a Kaiseki dinner armed with forks and knives you will not fully appreciate the art of Japanese food. In Europe some people only eat caviars with ivory spoons since anything else will spoil the taste, in their mind. In Egypt if you don't use your hand to eat Kus Kus you don't get the full flavor! French only drink a grand 1st growth bordeaux with a special crystal glass. The examples are endless regarding the world's cuisines and their untensils.

If you stick to hotel restaurants (bleck!) I'm sure you'll get western utensils without a problem (I've only stayed overnight in Japan and that's where I ate!). However, it's REALLY not that difficult to use chopsticks and if you practice at home a few times before you leave you'll do fine.<BR><BR>I find Japanese chopsticks often easier to use (the shorter, tapered ones, I mean - I don't know if those are "officially" considered "Japanese").<BR><BR>I've also been told that sushi and rolls are often eaten as "finger foods" so you needn't worry about those at all.

In addition to Hanuman's explanations, most traditional food (especially kaiseki) is served on delicate lacquered or ceramic ware that would terribly suffer from the use of fork and knife.

Thanks for all the replys. I really plan on trying my best to use chopsticks and will not be eating in many western restaurants if any at all.<BR>I think this is part of my pre trip nerves, and I'm sure everyone knows what that feels like. I have been to many countries in Europe but never any Asian countries, but hope this to be the first of many. Thanks for all your answers.