It is interesting when you think about how Japan is a nation that appreciates the virtues of silence and good manners, and yet when it comes to eating noodles, Japanese people can be the loudest in the world.
According to lifestyle website grapee.jp, slurping (发出“哧溜”声) when eating noodles is encouraged in Japanese culture. It is believed that taking air into your mouth can enhance the flavor of the noodles, and that it helps cool down the noodles. It is also considered to be a way to show appreciation for the dish. Sometimes, just making the noise alone seems to make the noodles more enjoyable.
It was not until a new expression “noodle harassment (骚扰)” ,or “hu-hara” in Japanese - came out last year on social media that Japanese people started to realize that the slurping noise is making some foreign visitors uncomfortable.
As a response, Japanese instant noodle maker Nissin introduced a so-called noise-canceling fork last month. The fork, which looks like an electric toothbrush, is connected wirelessly to a smartphone. When the person using the fork starts to slurp, the fork sends a signal to the person’s phone, making it play a sound to mask the slurping noise. “The fork is a solution to the ‘noodle harassment’ issue, particularly as the number of tourists visiting Japan increases,” said the company, according to Euro News.
But is it really necessary?
Dining traditions do vary. What is considered to be proper table manners in one country is likely to be seen as rude in another. (In India, for example people eat with their hands because they think in this way they build a connection with the food. However, people who are used to eating with utensils might find it uncomfortable to get their hands covered in oil and bits of food. But this eating method is part of India’s culture, just like Japan’s slurping. It is common and an everyday part of the nation’s culture.
“So, if you are eating noodles, whether that is ramen, udon, or soba, please slurp,” wrote reporter Brian Ashcraft on blog Kotaku. “If anyone gets annoyed while you are doing that, pay them no mind because they are missing the point entirely.”
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT a reason for Japanese people to slurp when eating noodles?| A．Slurping can make the noodles seem more delicious. |
| B．Slurping can make the dining experience more pleasant. |
| C．Slurping shows thanks for the noodles. |
| D．Slurping can keep the noodles warm in their mouth. |
| A．introduced a special fork |
| B．designed an app to remind people not to slurp |
| C．improved their noodle products |
| D．advised playing music to mask the slurping sound |
| A．give an example of different dining traditions |
| B．show a more annoying eating habit than slurping |
| C．compare Indian and Japanese table manners |
| D．criticize the outdated tradition there |
| A．Annoyed. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Shocked | D．Supportive. |
