Japanese asking me to validate their food is just plain strange, amirite?

It's such a cultural thing. It's why in Japan one of the most popular TV formats is a panel consisting of comedians, minor celebrities and the show's hosts trying some regional food and declaring it one of the tastiest thing they have ever eaten every single time.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I lived in South Korea for a year and 3 months. I've attended multiple business meetings and one-on-ones. I have no recollection of them expecting me to react to their food. Their food speaks for itself. The only time they react strangely is when I'm unable to eat the rice and that's only because there's so much other really good food that there is no space in my stomach left for the rice. I feel bad about that.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

It's a candidly honest opinion and I think this shouldn't be unpopular. I think there is a culture there in Japan (as is in other Asian cultures; I know this because I also grow up in another Asian culture which is quite similar), is that you either agree or agree. As a junior or a lesser or a guest, you just have to agree to be polite and not "embarrass" the host or your superior. It's a multi-layered thing that's fostered since childhood in a country-wide scale so it's kind of hard to explain, but I can see where you're coming from.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Yeah, we care a lot about food. You can nuke us, kidnap our people, steal our people, or heavily tax us, but the only thing that'll piss us off is food.

by DustGrouchy 2 days ago

Lmao

by National-Owl 2 days ago

I'm honestly surprised that you found Mongolian food (which in my experience is pretty bland and heavy on meat & dairy) better than Japanese? But fair if you do.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

It's because I'm a big meat eater and I need meat in my life. Most of the time I eat Japanese food is just bits and pieces of overpriced meat that they will exclaim high quality. I also don't eat pork so there's that.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I wonder if you mean real Mongolian food, or "Mongolian BBQ" which is actually Taiwanese. If you don't like pork and seafood, then clearly you aren't going to like a lot of Japanese food. It doesn't mean the other types of food are "better", they just don't fit your preferences.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

all of that food was way better than Japanese Do you eat at JP McDonalds lol?

by Anonymous 2 days ago

McDonald's is getting pricier by the day. I only eat it as a last resort. And I don't see the point in living in Japan and eating it. It's also supports the IOF so no thank you.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

If you're traveling to a country sure but living there is different. I live in China and eat western food once in a while. After a while you've tried everything under the sun and the local specialty just doesn't hit the same when you already had it 100 times.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I grew up on Chinese food and I actively try to eat any other cuisine if I can. Chinese food is always a last resort for me. I don't hate it but I just don't want it ever. It's so boring to me.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

I can understand not liking a specific Chinese cuisine but "Chinese cuisine" is wide ranging as "European cuisine" (actually, its probably wider if anything) so its hard to imagine it being boring as a whole when there are so many diverse options from different regions. Xinjiang and Hokkien Cuisine as different as Japanese and "American" cuisine.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Yes, I am well aware of how wide the range is and I do mean all Chinese cuisine. I strongly prefer any other cuisine.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Your reply stated with an amuse bouche, had a nutritious and wholesome main course and finished with a sweet and tart desert. Well done you!

by Anonymous 2 days ago

Thank you for not eating McDonalds.

by ComfortableRough9368 2 days ago

I like you.

by Tamia85 2 days ago

I have three CLOSE Bengali friends and they haven't done that to me. One of them is from Sylhet. I was invited to her house to eat and we ate with our hands multiple times (because my parents culture also eatsceith their hands) and no one in that family looked at me expecting me to nod and approve.

by Anonymous 2 days ago

All I'm going to say is this… strange to you? Or strange to the entire population as a whole? I think this is an unpopular opinion for sure. Seems pretty typical to me of Japanese "culinary culture."

by ComfortableRough9368 2 days ago

Also they seem offended if you don't eat every bite even in restaurants. They ask, "is there something wrong?" I'm, no, I'm just full or don't want anymore.

by Anonymous 2 days ago