Steeped in tradition and history the Japanese have made sushi is one of the most delicious and attractive dishes I can think of. Here's some cool pics of sushi and sashimi as well as a few tips on what to do (and NOT to do) with it




In more traditional sushi-ya, if you are not given a spoon for your soup, do not ask for one. You are expected to pick up your bowl to drink the soup, using your chopsticks to direct the solid pieces to your mouth.


Slurping noodles is OK, less so for soup, but a bit is fine, at least by Japanese standards. Belching is considered impolite at the Japanese table, unlike some other Asian cultures.


Technically one doesn’t drink sake with sushi (or rice in general) only with sashimi or before or after the meal. It is felt that since they are both rice based, they do not complement each other and therefore should not be consumed together. Green tea is a great option with sushi or sashimi.


You may be offered a hot, wet towel (called an oshibori) at the beginning of your meal. Use it to wash you hands and try to fold it back neatly the way it was offered to you before returning it.


How To Eat Sushi
1. Clean your hands by using an oshibori (hot towel).
2. Put soy sauce for dipping in the small dish.
3. When you eat nigiri-zushi (hand-pressed sushi), pick up one sushi piece between your thumb and middle finger, putting the index finger on top.
4. Dip the end of the neta (fish side) into the soy sauce.(not the rice part.)
5. Bring the sushi to your mouth and bite in half.
6. Before your next bite, again dip the neta side in the soy sauce.
7. When you eat maki-zushi(rolled sushi), place the whole piece in your mouth if you can. Maki-zushi falls apart easily when you bite.

Tips:
1. Don't put too much soy sauce in the small dish. It's better to add as you need it.
2. Don't dip a whole sushi piece into the soy sauce. The rice part tends to fall apart.
3. Try to eat pieces of pickled ginger between different kinds of sushi. It helps to clean your mouth and enhance the flavors.




With alcoholic beverages, it is considered customary to serve each other (if not alone) instead of pouring one's own drink. Be attentive of your fellow diner’s glasses and refill them. If you need a refill, drink the remainder of the beverage and hold the glass slightly and politely towards a dining partner.


Don’t be afraid to ask for an item not on the menu as the sushi-ya may have special or seasonal items that are not listed. It is perfectly acceptable to ask, and often the itamae will appreciate your interest.


It’s nice to offer a beer or sake to the itamae -the guy who prepared your wonderful meal- (but of course not required). He may remember you and treat you well upon subsequent visits. Usually with an evening meal as drinking in the afternoon is not customary.



Do not rub your chopsticks together. When not in use they should be placed parallel to yourself on the holder (if there is one) or on the shoyu dish. They should also be placed there when finished with your meal.

chopstick etiquette
1. Don't directly pass food from your chopsticks to somebody else's chopsticks or vice versa. this is too close symbolically to the passing of a deceased relative’s bones at a traditional Japanese funeral. Pass a plate instead allowing an individual to take food
themselves.
2. Don't stick chopsticks vertically into food, especially into a bowl of rice. This resembles incense sticks and again brings to mind the symbolism of the Japanese funeral and prayers to one's ancestors.
3. Use the clean top ends of your chopsticks when you get food from large serving dishes (if serving chopsticks are not available.)
4. Rest your chopsticks on the chopsticks rest before you pick up a food dish. (Don't pick up a dish with the hand that is holding your chopsticks.)
5. Don't wave your chopsticks around above food dishes. Don't use your chopsticks to point at somebody.

This is an AWESOME site I found on EXACTLY EVERYTHING you need to know about sushi [link]
Highly recommended!

(reposted from previous journal feature)