Chopsticks and soba noodle Story
Japanese foods culture is so different from Americans. For example in staple food, Japanese is rice, but American is bread. And direction that how to eat is different, too. Japanese is based with chopsticks, American is fork and knife.
Then I think when people have to eat with what they have no experience, its so confusing. So I guess many American people might worry about to use chopsticks, if he would come to Japan.
Actually using chopsticks is not easy. In fact Japanese kids have training using chopsticks in eating meal. So if foreigner that have not used chopsticks, they would be troubled in the meal.
Anyway, if you will visit to Japan, I recommend you to have lessons using chopsticks.
By the way, I think Japanese ramen noodle is so famous, but I want you to know soba noodle. Soba noodle is traditional Japanese food I think. In fact ramen is originally from China, but soba is seen in Japanese old drowning. Perhaps if you could see Japanese drowning that is about soba shop's muster, the drowning might be ukiyoe styled.
Then I think, if the soba noodle is more traditional than ramen, to eat soba by chopsticks is more proper than by fork and knife. And there is menu soba to eat by chopsticks easily comparing fork and knife. For example, zaru soba would be typical, I think.
Because, actually most of soba noodle are similar to ramen. The noodle is in the soup and tempura or egg would be on. However zaru soba is noodle and soup are separately. soba noodle are on zaru and soup is in little small bowl. And when you eat zaru soba, you take a little soba from zaru, and dip into soup, then eat. I think when taking a little soba or dipping into soup, it is more useful than fork and knife.
So I recommend have a training to use chopsticks, for eating soba noodle smoothly. And I guess there are many menu fitting to eat by chopsticks. Maybe, sashimi would typical food. Eating sashimi, at first sashimi a bit putting on soy sauce.
Anyway, using chopsticks is Japanese typical culture, I think. And if you could Japan or Japanese restaurant, the ability of using chopsticks is good. Especially you could go soba restaurant, and order zaru soba. And enjoy! zaru soba!
Eating soba noodle
Soba is very popular food in Japan and traditional. And soba noodle is in many story like rakugo. If you might have opportunity to hear rakugo about soba noodle for exampe "Tokisoba", the speaker would perform the seen of eating soba noodle by chopsticks.zaru soba
