Job Discussion Forums

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

So my husbands mom requested chopsticks for christmas. Seems reasonable right? Well, she cant stand the taste off wood (my husband hates it to) and wants some that are like ceramic or stone, or something like that. So my questions is whether or not anyone knows of any chopstick stores in the tokyo area. Or maybe you know a chain store that I might be able to find in Tochigi?
Anyways, any advice is appreciated!
Very Happy

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:12 am Post subject:

Any department store has them. As for tasting of wood...that made me giggle. Is he acually munching on the stick there?

Any non-freebie ones are coated with stuff to stop the things falling to bits.

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ is a nice online site for searching x million shops, easy to get a delivery too if you got a visa card. Just search for chopstick , English is ok.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Yeah, the bit about tasting of wood is funny!

Anyway, there's a great speciality chopstick shop in Jingumae off Omotesando called NATSUNO. Apparently they have branches in Ginza and the Marunouchi building too but I've never been. The chopsticks aren't cheap but they do have an amazing range. You can also buy them on-line from this shop which might be convenient for you living in Tochigi.

This is the home page. Click on 夏野オンラインショップ to see the range of chopsticks they have.

http://www.e-ohashi.com/

AS

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

Thanks!
I dont understand the wood thing either...but when I used to eat Popsicles when I was a kid I like the taste of the stick...

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

They can taste the wood even if they have the usual coating? They hardly spend any time in your mouth anyway, if used correctly.

Japanese chopsticks are made of wood or bamboo pretty much by definition. Maybe plastic Chinese chopsticks or metal Korean ones would suit them better.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

maybe it is less of a taste and more of a texture. My husband always tells me this story about how he used to put a wood cross in between his front teeth...he cant finish the story before he starts shivering and sputtering...haha. Or maybe it is just the idea....I will check out those websites and I am thinking about going to the Plastic Food District in Tokyo. Does anyone know about that?? it makes me laugh to think about it...hehe

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

You can use chopsticks?

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

no silly, of course I cant use them, I stick them in my hair...I thought everyone did that!

crazy crazy me

Rolling Eyes

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

You forgot to put on your sarcasm/joke detector helmut today? Wink

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I'm glad to see you found your helmut. Wink

I was at a bar last night and by some strange coincidence there was actually a female in there with me. If you knew where I lived you would know that was special. Wink

First question: Where are you from?

Second: Why is your Japanese so good?

Third: Eh? You ordered some food, can you use chopsticks?

I know it is so cliche and it has been discussed a million times but my god!

Is there some secret training centre they send all japanese to practice for their first encounter with a foreigner? I'm sure as hell there is some professor running around Japan reveling in the knowledge that he has convinced the last 3 generations of Japanese that foreingers have no ability to use chopsticks.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

I know, today I was eating (alone because I had a day off) and I was using chopsticks. The waitress was like "Chopsticks!" "Cool!" (in Japanese of course). My family at home has trouble using chopsticks but it is because they never really did it. But it only takes about 5 good meals eating with them to be decent....how about this...last weekend we were at the grocery store and we tasted this realllllly good pizza so we picked up two of them (which we NEVER do) well we walked to another tasting booth, it was some strange green japanese sweet but I am always in for trying new foods...the lady WOULD NOT let us try it because she said that foreigners dont like it, she pointed to the pizza and said that pizza was ok for us to eat but the sweets werent...we felt like idiots...so that has nothing to do with chopsticks but...well..oh well...