eating

The Japanese use chopsticks with the bulk of their meals. However, they also use at least two types of spoon as well as forks on a regular basis. Additional forms of tableware are used periodically.
Forks and spooks:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:SB4coaACoptVJM:http://img.nextag.com/image/Ricci_Japanese_Bird_and/1/000/000/757/337/75733798.jpg
Chinese soup spoon:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:2GhyFRYVv4QA7M:http://www.quickspice.com/scstore/images/tableware-ceramic-japanese-blackspoon_lg.jpg
Chopsticks:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:qpvHH9vYarXf6M:http://www.mountfuji.co.uk/acatalog/5205c.jpg
Japanese chopsticks, in general, are thinner than Chinese, but thicker than Korean.
Japanese sweets:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:HD2Ob9RHR1ICRM:http://hawaii.metblogs.com/archives/images/2005/12/wagashi.jpg
When eating traditional Japanese sweets (like those eaten at a tea ceremony), one may use a small pointed stick to slice the sweet and eat it (see the above link).
For the most part, the Japanese avoid touching food with their hands.
Before eating, whether or not one plans on touching the food, it is VERY important to wash and dry one's hands thoroughly (though soap is not essential).

Things to know about eating with the Japanese:

Eating

• Wash your hands before eating
• Avoid using your hands—use chopsticks, silverware, or some other medium (like a burger’s wrapper) to touch your food (but do not pass food from your chopsticks to someone else's)
  
• Double-dipping is normal and not a problem in most situations, especially informal
• Slurping long noodles is good—it shows respect for long life (so don’t bite them off!) and that you are enjoying the food
• Traditional table: sit on cushions on floor
• Western table: like ours
• Reaching across the table or getting up to get something from the other end is fine (they don’t discuss little things like this—there’s no “please pass the butter”, you just get it yourself or wait for someone to notice you need it)
• Eat a little of each thing; don’t just gobble down all of one dish without regard for the others. (This can be rude)
• Complement the chef before, during, and after the meal, using appropriate expressions such as…
• いただきます (before the meal)
  
• おいしい (during)
  
• ごちそさまでした (after)
  
• Do your absolute best to eat everything you are given (when full, let them know so they won’t continue to refill your plate)
• As a guest, you will often be served without asking to be

Ofuro room おふろば お風呂場

An "ofuro room" is a Japanese bathroom, minus the sink and toilet, which keeps the shower separate from the bathtub. One may shower (using soap and shampoo and the like) before or after entering the "ofuro." The "ofuro" is the bathtub.
Actually, it is more than that: it is a very hot, deep tub for pleasure and relaxing. The water is reused by each family member. Some families use the same water for more than one day before draining and refilling the tub. This may sound disgusting to some, but if you will recall that the tub is not used for cleaning but simply for sitting maybe you will be able to exhale.

http://www.toua-group.net/image/082bath-a.jpg

http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/sawanoya/ofuro.gif

http://hokubujutaku.ti-da.net/usr/hokubujutaku/DSC07586.JPG

Above are some links (please copy and paste in an open window to view) to pictures of "ofuro" I found via a google search.
The first one shows an お風呂 with its covering over it. This keeps the heat inside.
The last one shows via a reflection in the mirror that the sink is outside the "ofuroba." Often the sink and toilet are in separate rooms from each other as well.
The comic-like picture at the following link shows that more than one person may enter the お風呂 at a time, and that a cup or pale of sorts can be used to disperse the water of oneself or one's partner.

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/kakikukekoji/imgs/a/6/a607477b.gif

Being hypersensitive to temperature, I was a little scared to enter the お風呂 for the first time. I kept moving my toes to make sure I was still alive and wondered if it was okay for my skin to turn pink from the heat. Obviously, my first time was not very relaxing. But now that I am away from it, I miss it dearly. When your body gets sore from the stresses of life, you really wish you had an "ofuro"!
My host family in Kansai (also known as "Kinki") Region often kept their お風呂 at around 41 degrees C (about 105.8 F). I found my favorite temperature was closer to 37 or 38 (98.6 or 100.4). However if I adjusted it I would have to wait for it to cool down, and the person who wanted to go after me would have to wait for it to heat up.
If you are able to access the link below, you may notice that above the "ofuro" there is a panel. That is how one controls the temperature of the water.

http://www.toto.co.jp/remodel/case/001/images/in_phot01.jpg

Someone has also added a brief description of the お風呂 on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ofuro

If you ever get the opportunity, please try using the お風呂場。You will come out feeling very clean and very relaxed.

Purpose

I have created this blog in order to further understanding of the lifestyle, culture, and common practices of Japanese people.
These observations by no means apply to every Japanese person nor "most" of them. On the contrary, the things I post here reflect my own assumptions and opinions based on personal experience in Japan and the United States with native Japanese people as well as my own formal* and informal research.
For a fuller understanding of things "Japanese" and the people behind these things I recommend spending time with Japanese people yourself, living in Japan, or at least doing a lot of research yourself on the subject (off line & at a library, if possible).
Thank you for taking the time to view my blog!
*Formal here means books, articles, and other scholarly sources I have consulted during undergraduate research on the topics presented on this blog. I make no claims at being a "professional" on any of the things discussed on this site.