Have you ever noticed that there is a lot of variation among chopsticks? Indeed, the sticks that you find at our Seattle Japanese restaurant could very well be worlds apart from those at other eateries, particularly if these places serve food from the other chopstick-using cultures. The fact is that Japan, China, Korea, and Vietnam each have their own chopstick preferences, and you actually have a pretty good chance of telling which country you’re in based simply on what kind of chopsticks the locals use.

Japan’s relationship with the chopstick goes back to ancient times, when the utensils were used only for religious ceremonies. These first Japanese sticks were made from bamboo and came connected at the ends, such that they acted more like tongs than the sets of sticks we’re all familiar with. Over time, as the utensils spread into common use, they began to change. Wealthy people would have sticks made from jade or precious metals. Silver chopsticks were a big luxury item, as it was believed that they would become stained if they came into contact with poison.

Today, most chopsticks in Japan are made from lacquered wood. They tend to be shorter than the styles that remain popular in China and, while the Chinese favor chopsticks with blunt tips, Japan goes more for thinner, rounder tips. Sets of chopsticks in Japan will often come in different lengths for men, women, and children.