Changes

* Miso soup can be drunk from the bowl, as if it was a cup. Solid pieces can be eaten using your chopsticks.

* Miso soup can be drunk from the bowl, as if it was a cup. Solid pieces can be eaten using your chopsticks.

If people around you are eating noodles, you might be surprised and horrified to hear them "slurping" the noddles into their mouths. Do not be embarrassed and feel free to join in. Slurping your noodles is considered a sign that you are enjoying your meal. On the other hand, burping after a meal is considered incredibly rude, and ''not'' a sign that you enjoyed your meal.

If people around you are eating noodles, you might be surprised and horrified to hear them "slurping" the noodles into their mouths. Do not be embarrassed and feel free to join in. Slurping your noodles is considered a sign that you are enjoying your meal. On the other hand, burping after a meal is considered incredibly rude, and ''not'' a sign that you enjoyed your meal.

==Eating Out==

==Eating Out==

If you are there on business, then your hosts will always appreciate a gift, especially a souvenir that represents your hometown. Remember that to the Japanese, the West is as exotic to them, as the East is to Westerners. In similar fashion, do not be surprised if your hosts offer you a Japanese souvenir. If the gift is wrapped, do not open it until after you have left. If the gift is not wrapped, then make sure you show appreciation for it - even if you do not like it. It helps to ask questions about the gift, to show interest.  

If you are there on business, then your hosts will always appreciate a gift, especially a souvenir that represents your hometown. Remember that to the Japanese, the West is as exotic to them, as the East is to Westerners. In similar fashion, do not be surprised if your hosts offer you a Japanese souvenir. If the gift is wrapped, do not open it until after you have left. If the gift is not wrapped, then make sure you show appreciation for it - even if you do not like it. It helps to ask questions about the gift, to show interest.  

Gifts are always offered with both hands and should be accepted with both hands, with both parties bowing to each other at the moment of offering and accepting. One thing to avoid is gifts that consist of 4 pieces, or items. This is because the Japanese word for [[Japanese numerical system|four]] (''shi'' <font size=3>四</font>) and death (''shi'' <font size=3>死</font>) sound the same and is thus considered back luck. You will find in Japan that items such as crockery or glasses are sold in sets of five, rather than the more common four, as found in the West.

Gifts are always offered with both hands and should be accepted with both hands, with both parties bowing to each other at the moment of offering and accepting. One thing to avoid is gifts that consist of 4 pieces, or items. This is because the Japanese word for [[Japanese numerical system|four]] (''shi'' <font size=3>四</font>) and death (''shi'' <font size=3>死</font>) sound the same and is thus considered bad luck. You will find in Japan that items such as crockery or glasses are sold in sets of five, rather than the more common four, as found in the West.

===Gift Giving Occasions===

===Gift Giving Occasions===

* Christmas and Birthdays. Giving gifts on these days was never a Japanese tradition, but due to Western influences many people, especially the younger generation, now exchange gifts on these days too.

* Christmas and Birthdays. Giving gifts on these days was never a Japanese tradition, but due to Western influences many people, especially the younger generation, now exchange gifts on these days too.

* Oseibo and Ochūgen. Presents are exchanged between family, friends and co-workers in December, at the end of year ceremony (''Oseibo'' <font size=3>御歳暮</font>). Older people generally receive gifts of food, ''sake'', or household items, whilst younger children receive a gift of money (<font size=3>お年玉</font> ''otoshidama''). The same happens in June, during the Obon Festival (<font size=3>お盆</font> Festival of Lanterns), when gifts are again exchanged, this time referred to as ''Ochūgen' (<font size=3>御中元</font>).

* Oseibo and Ochūgen. Presents are exchanged between family, friends and co-workers in December, at the end of year ceremony (''Oseibo'' <font size=3>御歳暮</font>). Older people generally receive gifts of food, ''sake'', or household items, whilst younger children receive a gift of money (<font size=3>お年玉</font> ''otoshidama''). The same happens in June, during the Obon Festival (<font size=3>お盆</font> Festival of Lanterns), when gifts are again exchanged, this time referred to as ''Ochūgen'' (<font size=3>御中元</font>).

* Valentine's day (<font size=3>バレンタインデー</font> ''barentaindei''). In Japan, the 14^th February is the day when girls of all ages present the men in their lives with chocolates. This is not restricted to romantic interests, but brothers, fathers, husbands, etc will also receive gifts. If the chocolates you receive are home-made, then it is a good sign that she is romantically interested in you. However, it is only the girls that give out chocolates on Valentine's day - boys have to wait until White Day (<font size=3>ホワイトデー</font> ''howaitodei'') on the 14^th March to return the favour.

* Valentine's day (<font size=3>バレンタインデー</font> ''barentaindei''). In Japan, the 14^th February is the day when girls of all ages present the men in their lives with chocolates. This is not restricted to romantic interests, but brothers, fathers, husbands, etc will also receive gifts. If the chocolates you receive are home-made, then it is a good sign that she is romantically interested in you. However, it is only the girls that give out chocolates on Valentine's day - boys have to wait until White Day (<font size=3>ホワイトデー</font> ''howaitodei'') on the 14^th March to return the favour.

* When returning from a holiday, you are expected to bring back souvenirs (''omiyage'' <font size=3>お土産</font>) for family, friends and co-workers. This often comes in the form of beautifully packaged foods specific to the region you have visited.

* When returning from a holiday, you are expected to bring back souvenirs (''omiyage'' <font size=3>お土産</font>) for family, friends and co-workers. This often comes in the form of beautifully packaged foods specific to the region you have visited.