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This
story was translated from Japanese into English by
students in Timothy Mossman's Interpreting and
Translating 200 Class, at Canadian International
College, North Vancouver, Canada. It was edited by
Timothy Mossman. Keiichiro Sugimoto from Japan Don't you think that it's difficult for Japanese to have soup "properly" without slurping? We Japanese have soup with a spoon, but no matter what, we can't help making a slurping sound. This tendency to slurp seems to be especially true of Japanese men. Most women tend to pay more attention to proper dining etiquette. When I'm eating with other Japanese, I don't pay much attention to this. However, when I'm eating with Americans, I desperately try to have my soup quietly and when I hear the fellow beside me slurping up a storm, I feel like blurting out, "Hey, where are your manners? " I'm trying to make an effort to have my soup "the American way" but I'm still not sure if I'm doing it right. To be honest, I hate having soup with a spoon because I don't feel satisfied having it with a spoon. The tastier the soup is, the more I feel like grabbing the bowl with both hands and gobbling it down (well, I'm exaggerating just a tad)! Come to think of it, there was a scene like that in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", wasn't there? Actually, the other day, I discovered the secret to skillfully having a bowl of soup. It happened while I was eating lunch in the company cafeteria. I found myself unconsciously staring at Martha, one of our American staff members. I'm not sure whether her way of having soup was the norm, but the way she brought the soup up into her mouth was a thing of beauty. I sat there admiring her "technique". Then it dawned on me. "Huh? She's eating her soup!" As I watched her and pondered my amazing discovery, I realized that her way of having soup was exactly like someone eating curry rice. It was like she was munching her soup! I then asked Michelle, who was sitting beside me, "We usually use the word "have" when we eat soup, but are there other words to use instead of "have"? Can we say "eat"? Or how about "drink?" "Huh?" Soup is definitely something to eat!" she replied. I was told that it doesn't seem to make any difference whether it is pottage, consume or cup-a-soup--they're all something to eat. I also posted the same question on an Internet Newsgroup and got the same response. I was interested in the response of one man; his wife is Chinese, and she insists soup is something to drink. I can relate to this! It's difficult for Japanese to have soup because we try to drink soup with a spoon. Here's the secret: just pretend it's a bowl of curry rice and--bon appetite! Since I have discovered this, I feel I have got over my "soup anxiety". However, much to my chagrin, "I can't get no satisfaction" from eating soup! To me, soup is something to drink. I'd like to add one more thing. To all Americans (well, not just Americans): miso shiru is miso soup in English, so stop "eating" it with a spoon. You should pick up the bowl, hold it with your hands, and drink it. One more thing. When you are eating a bowl of rice, please don't forget to hold the bowl (in your left hand if right handed) while eating. This is proper Japanese etiquette. Just using chopsticks doesn't cut it! P.S. To those working in Japanese restaurants in the United States: please stop serving miso shiru before the main course as if it was some kind of appetizer. Miso shiru should always be served with the main course. It's definitely not soup,even though it's called soup in English!
Keiichiro
Sugimoto explains why he wrote the stories: Timothy
Mossman writes: Return to: Translating Keiichiro's Stories | Issue 15 | Home Page
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