Ramen eating noise

[godppgo]

When Japanese eat Ramen, they make a special noise. The noise comes from the "sucking" motion of the noodle from the bowl to the mouth. Now I've asked my Japanese friends about this and they said if you don't make noise in a Ramen place, that means you don't respect the Ramen chef. Other than that, they can't really tell me if there a deeper meaning in making the noise. I've noticed they also make nosie when eating other type of noodle (be that Soba or cup noodle). I was raised in an environment where noodle eating is suppose to be kept quiet and making noise is considered rude. Therefore, I've always found the behavior awkward.

So for those people who live in Japan, do you make noise while eating noodle? Is there any tradition or reason other than respecting the chef for making such noise (or sound)?

 

[epigene]

Hi godppgo-san!

I've been told that slurping began long time ago (I don't know when) when soba noodles were considered "eat-and-go" fast food (so was sushi, by the way). So, people slurped to eat it up while it's still piping hot. It began that way to become what people insist is tradition. Some chefs may insist on slurping because you have to wait a while for the noodles to cool down to eat without slurping, and hot noodles lose their body as they cool down. (Then, why do people slurp cold noodles, too? :?)

Anyway, there are a lot of people who insist it's tradition, but that's not something you have to adhere to loyally. I, for one, don't, although my husband does it all the time. I tell him my glasses get dirty when I slurp.

Generally speaking, women are inclined not to do it because it can mess up their hair over their faces, makeup & lipstick.
If you don't want to, tell people who insist on slurping that you have respiration problems and can't slurp--or else it gets into your windpipe...

 

[Kara_Nari]

I had a drunken night in Fukuoka at a ramen caravan.
Ojisan next to me was teaching me how to 'slurp' properly, hahha but he had finished his noodles! Still interesting and very funny.
His wife was very amusing also.
I love meeting random people.

 

[kirei_na_me]

Something that has always struck me as interesting(for a lack of a better term), slurping noodles.

I can barely sit across from my husband when he does it. I absolutely hate hearing it and I would never do it. I never suck my noodles up like that anyway. I'll pick the noodles up and bite them off instead of slurping.

I know it's a tradition, though. I can understand that it can be out of respect or because they're hot(whatever), but that doesn't mean I can tolerate listening to it or doing it myself.

 

[IkaNatto]

I'm pretty sure it's a tradition, described correctly by the previous messages in this thread

I, personally, however, could not stand people slurping anything during meal.
I think there's a clear distinction between "table manner" and "cultural tradition" here.

Surely most Japaneses slurp ramen, or soba but they don't slurp their tea, or soup or coffee or anything liquid

When some people slurp their drink, that's quite irritating

 

[nice gaijin]

manners are defined by culture, which is why it is rude to leave anything on your plate in some cultures, and rude to eat everything on your plate in others. We all have been programmed to respond to "bad manners" negatively, but who is there to tell us about table manners other than the purveyors of culture, those who raise us?

 

[Precious4e]

I actually slurp from time to time when I eat my ramen or noodles. I don't mind the sound under certain circumstances. Eating ramen or noodles at an asian restaurant is one of those times. I think its because i know its custom for people to do that so I don't care.

Slurping kind of makes the noodles easier to eat too because they are long and you can't really have a "bite size" of it.

 

[godppgo]

Thanks for everyone's input! Actually I tried to "slurp" ramen once and it ended in a rather disastrous fashion..(its not as easy as it looks). Maybe I just need more practice.

 

[Carlson]

i normaly do when eating ramen or soup. its not that i try to but when i do i dont feel as bad because i know its normal.

 

[MeAndroo]

I definitely slurp as loud and as much as I can when eating in an establishment that would appreciate it. For some reason, it makes the whole experience feel more authentic.

A practical side I've seen to it is that sucking in air with noodles cools them down. I like my ramen served hot, and the noodles aren't always ready for immediate consumption, but there's no way I'm going to let them get soggy (I like my noodles hard). Slurping noodles can burn your mouth, but if you inhale air, you rid yourself of that hazard. It's the equivalent to blowing on food, but this way you kill 2 birds with one stone, so to speak.

Slurping noodles neatly is an acquired skill. Anyone who's tried to slurp something like curry udon will tell you that approaching it haphazardly will only result in a bunch of tiny brown stains on you and the people around you.

 

[Minty]

When Japanese eat Ramen, they make a special noise. The noise comes from the "sucking" motion of the noodle from the bowl to the mouth. Now I've asked my Japanese friends about this and they said if you don't make noise in a Ramen place, that means you don't respect the Ramen chef. Other than that, they can't really tell me if there a deeper meaning in making the noise. I've noticed they also make nosie when eating other type of noodle (be that Soba or cup noodle). I was raised in an environment where noodle eating is suppose to be kept quiet and making noise is considered rude. Therefore, I've always found the behavior awkward.
So for those people who live in Japan, do you make noise while eating noodle? Is there any tradition or reason other than respecting the chef for making such noise (or sound)?

I think you have stayed too long in Canada. I took my husband to Taiwan not long ago and in the food hall, everybody slurped their noodles, same as the Japanese.

In general, people of European descendants view eating foods with loud noises as rude table manner so I guess Japanese or not when Europeans encounter this it will be a culture shock to them.

 

[IkaNatto]

You could argue that table manner may be culturally specific at times
However, from what I've know and the cultures I've been in deep contact with (grew up in taiwan, family heavily adopted japanese culture since grandpa graduated from tokyo university then lived in France for 2 years, and been living in Canada for 8 years now), eating with your mouth open and with lots of noise (like mooching) is considered universally to be rude.

 

[Asakusa]

ramenoise

In general, people of European descendants view eating foods with loud noises as rude table manner so I guess Japanese or not when Europeans encounter this it will be a culture shock to them.

As for me, in Italy making noise while eating is a rude behaviour

A japanese woman, during my flight to Tokyo Narita Airport explain me how to do that noise. And some reason why (for instance: ramen are always burning, your tongue will thank you). I start practice in the airplane with funny -so to say- results

Now I slurp ramen very noisy. But not in face of italian friends or family.

 

[yukio_michael]

Staying with my sister I have realised that I have no idea how to eat ramen anymore without slurping. It's not that I'm SOOOOOH Japanationalized that I've forgotten, it's just that I can't remember ever eating it without slurping... At the least, it's not easy.

That said, it's great to eat ramen w/ other slurpers, it's like being totally unself-concious and at ease!

 

[Minty]

You could argue that table manner may be culturally specific at times
However, from what I've know and the cultures I've been in deep contact with (grew up in taiwan, family heavily adopted japanese culture since grandpa graduated from tokyo university then lived in France for 2 years, and been living in Canada for 8 years now), eating with your mouth open and with lots of noise (like mooching) is considered universally to be rude.

I think we have a lot in common, grandparents Japanese educated, France living experience, Taiwanese blood.

Are you my lost twin? However I think the eating with noise thing is not really universal but cultural because Japanese and Chinese/Taiwanese do it. My husband was so annoyed by these loud eating noises. In his culture this is prohibited.

As for me, in Italy making noise while eating is a rude behaviour

A japanese woman, during my flight to Tokyo Narita Airport explain me how to do that noise. And some reason why (for instance: ramen are always burning, your tongue will thank you). I start practice in the airplane with funny -so to say- results

Now I slurp ramen very noisy. But not in face of italian friends or family.

Bonjourno! My husband is half Italian. So I eat Pasta quite often, and my husband makes the best pasta! Yummy! Yes like you when I am eating western noodles I don't suck but I do when I am eating East Asian noodles.

 

[Davey]

I love ramen, but the noise, well I guess you have to get used to that!

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

I have "窶扠ﾂ静｣ﾂ nekojita (a tongue of a cat)"
Therefore I make a sound and cannot eat.

 

[osias]

I'm Japanese, but I don't slurp, when I eat ramen...and I find the noise disturbing. It's a matter of personal preference.

 

[bezz]

Related Thread

 

[J-Life]

I'm not Japanese but when I ear Ramen, it doesn't taste the same if I don't make noise. My Japanese godfather said that we make noise when we eat in Japan because the eating noise shows our appreciation for the food. If you make noise, you essentially enjoy it more.... Strange but true for me anyhow...