Would this be considered rude in Japan?

Question

I'm planning on going to Japan one day, and if I'm invited to a house, I'm sure they will serve me raw fish. I had an incident with parasites as a child and I don't want to be eating anything raw. How can I decline their meal politely without offending anyone?

Answer 1

Get over your "Incident"

More likely  you won't have the problem , that you will be offered sushimi in the house you go to...

People in Japan ,, have a varied diet. They do not all eat maki rolls and sushi mi..

If you are offered though,, I would suggest you take advantage of the opportunity .....

Answer 2

Well i have no idea, but I went to japan last summer; and I had the time of my life so have fun, and dont worry about little things like that!

Answer 3

not everything they eat is raw fish. stick to the rice!  

Answer 4

Im sure it is not common to serve raw fish to guests but if it happens I hoep u know enough japanese to explain to them why you dont want any

Answer 5

It is not rude itself at all. People have so many individual allergy or body constitutional weakness.

The problem is how do you explain your decline to them. As well as every country, kind of invitations always mean including serving some meal which has been quite prepared before arrival in Japan. I think you'd better say no raw food is appreciated by your physical problem to your host prior to the day.

If you failed to pre-notice them and once got dishes you dislike, you'd better to try just a bit or pose to try with some apology. Your attitude is one of effective persuasion for them.

I think you don't need to disclose the details of reason such as childtime experience by parasites because it may look as if you are afraid of the host serving you the same possible sickness.

You could just say your body has some allegy problem for any raw food,  I think.

  

Answer 6

It's actually rather rare to be invited to someone's house, in Japan, unlike here in the US where it's common to invite friends or coworkers over, or throw random get-togethers for events, etc.  Most entertaining takes place out of the home, instead; you might meet at a restaurant or club instead, where you would be better able to choose what you wish to eat.

I'm not certain, but I doubt that raw fish sushi or sashimi are as common as you think, anyway, in home cooking.  Making sushi is considered a high art that takes years to fully master; and key to that is having absolutely fresh materials, not fish you popped in the fridge yesterday.  

If it is a concern, I would suggest mentioning it to your hosts in advance, rather than refusing something at the table.  And if you think raw fish is the hardest thing you have to face.... I hope you don't get served natto!

Answer 7

Tell them the truth, and show them this sight with your question, when they see this, they will understand how you feel, and I'm sure they wont be offended!

Answer 8

Japanese are very sensitive and polite, so be very gentle when you refuse.

"It looks very good, but unfortunately I _____. Thank you, though."

When you first enter a Japanese house, bow and and take off your shoes. Don't eat before your host. Before you begin eating, say "Itadakimasu."

EE-TAH-DAH-KEE-MAHS.  [the U is usually silent.]

Answer 9

Just explain your situation but when you enter make sure you say おじゃまします (ojamashimasu) and when you leave make sure you say おじゃましました (ojamashimashita), have fun in Japan.

Answer 10

Explain the incident and eat everything else. Blow when you enter, leave your shoes at the door, don't start eating before the host, blow as you leave.

Answer 11

tell them no. it means the same thing everywhere, this aint 1800.

Answer 12

I'm learning Japanese but the most polite think to say would be... Well arigatoo (are-ee-gah-toe) is thank you so you just need to learn 'no' in Japanese... I dunno it ... well i don't remember it... I'll add when I remember. if you say 'no' arigatoo then it'll be fine lemme just find 'no' in Japanese.... It's Lie in Japanese, pronounced (EE-ay) So say lie arigatoo, I'll try and fine something more... Appropriate... OK you should never do this: never ever ever ever! put your chopsticks in your rice sticking straight up, it reminds them of death and evil, here's the story behind it: Japanese funerals are unlike other funerals we have in the U.S.A in japan they cremate the dead body and put it in a pot, then they stick two sticks out of the top to represent the death of the person, so never do that or it will offend them greatly, you should learn Japanese first... I know a whole bunch! I could if you want e-mail you all the words on my two Japanese words sheets and what they mean etc... if you want me to just let me know. :) i might add more l8er! :-))

Here's some basics: Good Morning: Ohayo Gozaimusu (Oh-hi-oh-- Goh-zy-muh-ss)

Good afternoon: Konnichiwa (cone-each-ee-wah)

Good Evening: Konbanwa (cone-bahn- wah)

Good bye: Sayonara (Si-oh-nar-ra) ~ roll the r

please: Dozo (doe-zoh)

may I : ii desu ka (ee-dess-kah)

is it ok : ii? (ee?)

just a moment : chotto matte (sho-toe- matt-ay)

I'll tell you how to introduce yourself later