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