Back home in America where I study, the dining hall is one of the most controversial places on campus. The dining hall is divided into three large rooms, each of which has been assigned a certain reputation and following. The first room is where all of the fraternities and sororities sit, and is easily the loudest and busiest room. Finding a seat at lunchtime in the first room is often an impossible task, thanks to people passive aggressively claiming seats for themselves and their friends by throwing all of their belongings across the table. Those who tried their luck in the first room but failed move onto the second room, which is known as the room where all of the athletes sit. And lastly, in the very back is the “Third Room,” as it is called by most students, and more often than not pronounced with an air of dread or disdain. The third room is where those who fall into neither category of fraternity boy/sorority girl or athlete sit, as well as students who want to sit by themselves, shrouded in shame. Because for some reason, eating alone is seen as a crime where I come from.
Via glamour.com
Before I came to Japan eating alone in public was something both unheard of and unthinkable to me. With the exception of ordering food to your home, where one can eat alone in the privacy of one’s own residence, eating out alone in America is typically seen as strange, even embarrassing. If you even Google image “eating alone,” you get a bunch of sad stock photos of people looking absolutely miserable. At my school, being caught eating alone is practically equivalent to social suicide. The funny thing is, I never thought that this attitude towards eating alone was ridiculous until I came to Tokyo, where eating alone is not only socially acceptable, but quite the norm.
Via hungryforever
For example, the Waseda dining hall actually has a section of rows of tables that students can just stand at and eat their meals alone before continuing on with their day. One thing I’ve noticed about Japan is that eating out is not seen as a luxury or an occasion like it is in America, but more of a practical necessity. Tokyo is full of eateries that cater to the solo diner, whether they just need to scarf down a hot meal and be on their way or if they want to eat at their leisure as they study or get work done. Yesterday I ate ramen next to a man who was conversing with someone via Bluetooth throughout his entire meal (He also arrived after me, and still left before I did). I’ve seen students doing their homework in McDonald’s, which is unheard of in the United States, where I never step foot inside a McDonald’s unless I need to pee or it’s past 12 AM and some alcohol is involved. Even in nicer restaurants in Japan, not just fast food, it is normal to see someone enjoying a meal alone. Despite initially finding it odd, the concept of eating alone has grown on me after living in Tokyo for four months. I find it refreshing, even liberating, to be able to sit alone in a cafe or restaurant and not feel judged whatsoever. After all, we do so many other daily tasks alone—studying, sleeping, showering, laundry, so why not eating? Is it really any different?
Of course, being able to go out and enjoy a nice meal with your friends is always a great time. But you should never feel like you are obligated to eat with other people simply because you don’t want to eat by yourself. There are worst things in life beyond eating alone. My school, as I’ve come to realize, is trapped in an airtight bubble where there are far too many Do’s and Don’ts. People are too concerned about what others are doing, as if there is a right or wrong way to do things as basic as eating. In the real world, no one cares.
Via guidable
And in some cases, eating alone can be a better experience. Ichiran Ramen, for example, is a world-famous Japanese noodle restaurant where guests sit alone in divided booths so that they are unable to see their neighbors. There is even a divider between the eater and the server and chef. It is a restaurant made for the purpose of avoiding any human interaction, and is one of the most popular places to eat at in Japan. In Ichiran, your attention is completely focused on the noodles, which are argued by many to be the best in Japan. Food, after all, is an art. In today’s world, people are always taking pictures of their food or run food instagrams, but do we ever appreciate the food beyond the camera lens? In Ichiran, the world does not exist outside of you and your bowl of ramen. Here, you can truly appreciate food as art, and the amazing amount of detail and care that went into making your bowl of noodles. If you want to know more about Japanese food, particularly ramen, Juzo Itami’s famous film Tampopo is essentially an ode to the beauty of food, almost even romantic.
いただきます！
Via slate