Editing Japanese cuisine (section)

===Dining etiquette===
{{main|Customs and etiquette in Japanese dining}}{{Culture of Japan}}
Many restaurants and homes in Japan are equipped with Western-style chairs and tables. However, traditional Japanese low tables and cushions, usually found on [[tatami]] floors, are also very common. Tatami mats, which are made of straw, can be easily damaged and are hard to clean, thus shoes or any type of footwear are always taken off when stepping on tatami floors.<ref name="Japan Etiquette">{{cite web|title=Japan Etiquette|url=http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/pacific_dinner_etiquette/japanese.html|website=Etiquette Scholar|publisher=Yellowstone Publishing, LLC|access-date=January 16, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829101500/https://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/pacific_dinner_etiquette/japanese.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When dining in a traditional tatami room, sitting upright on the floor is common. In a casual setting, men usually sit with their feet crossed and women sit with both legs to one side. Only men are supposed to sit cross-legged. The formal way of sitting for both sexes is a kneeling style known as ''[[seiza]]''. To sit in a ''seiza'' position, one kneels on the floor with legs folded under the thighs and the buttocks resting on the heels.<ref name="Japan Etiquette"/>

When dining out in a restaurant, the customers are guided to their seats by the host. The honored or eldest guest will usually be seated at the center of the table farthest from the entrance. In the home, the most important guest is also seated farthest away from the entrance. If there is a [[tokonoma]], or alcove, in the room, the guest is seated in front of it. The host sits next to or closest to the entrance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/table-etiquette/pacific_dinner_etiquette/japanese.html|title=Japan Etiquette {{!}} International Dining Etiquette {{!}} Etiquette Scholar|last=Lininger|first=Mike|website=Etiquette Scholar|language=en-US|access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>

In Japan, it is customary to say ''itadakimasu'' ("I [humbly] receive") before starting to eat a meal.<ref>{{Cite book|title="Itadakimasu" o wasureta Nihonjin : tabekata ga migaku hinsei|last1=Ogura, Tomoko|last2=小倉朋子|date=2008|publisher=Asukī Media Wākusu|isbn=9784048672870|edition=Shohan|location=Tōkyō|pages=68|oclc=244300317}}</ref> When saying ''itadakimasu'', both hands are put together in front of the chest or on the lap. ''Itadakimasu'' is preceded by complimenting the appearance of food. Another customary and important etiquette is to say ''go-chisō-sama deshita'' ("It was a feast") to the host after the meal and the restaurant staff when leaving.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://glosbe.com/|title=ごちそうさまでした in English – Japanese–English Dictionary|website=Glosbe|language=en|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622073359/https://glosbe.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>