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How To Begin A Meal In Japan

It's not hard to imagine a foreigner or tourist being a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of customs and traditions associated with food in Japan. However, there's one custom that anyone visiting Japan should know about. When someone offers you a meal, it's considered polite to begin that meal with "Itadakimasu," which roughly means "I humbly receive." This goes for just about any meal you're offered, whether it comes from a stranger or a friend.

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It's also worth stating that this is more so a cultural tradition and doesn't really have anything to do with religion, so there's no reason it can't be observed by everyone.