Do you enjoy dining alone? You're likely to answer 'yes' to this question if you're eating at home. However, in our country, it's not common to see people eating alone in public. In fact, quite the opposite is true. If you're going out to eat, you're probably with a friend, your spouse, or a large group.
But did you know that the situation is completely reversed in Japan? That is, in Japan, people prefer to eat alone when dining out.
Let's delve into the reasons why.
If you were to ask me, 'Have you ever dined out alone?', my response would be, 'Only when I absolutely had to.' Moreover, I don't identify myself as someone with social anxiety. If I come across a restaurant or cafe that I like, I would suggest it to my spouse or friend and ask, 'Shall we go?' I believe that many people are in the same boat as me. As Turks, we love crowded tables and long mealtime conversations.
Now, let's turn our attention to Japan...
Andrew Dickens, who has written about his visits to Japan, discussed this topic in a 2018 article. 'I've eaten alone quite often in my life,' says Dickens, 'and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Yes, it's easier to eat when you don't have to talk; it's a nice time to think and focus on the meal. Yet, I sometimes find it boring.'
Dickens expresses his desire to learn about Japanese culture with these words: 'That's why I visited Japan, the capital of the solo dining culture, to observe, learn, and immerse myself in this culture.'
The declining population and increase in single-person households in Japan have led to a rise in single-person tables in restaurants. Today, even in luxury hotels, you can see dozens of people dining alone.
A renowned ramen chain is known to cater exclusively to solo diners. Each customer has their own booth, and an unseen chef serves the ramen by lifting a small bamboo curtain. Moreover, you place your order through a vending machine. This means you can order and enjoy your meal without interacting or even seeing anyone else.
Another reason for the Japanese people's solitude is their lack of fear of being alone. In other words, the Japanese trust each other and can be alone in society. Dickens recounts a conversation with a Japanese individual who expressed that 'the sense of security and safety in society allows people not to shy away from being alone.' Another person's words echo this sentiment: 'Sometimes my spouse doesn't want to eat out, but I do. Maybe I want to eat meat, but they don't. I go and eat alone, it's normal. Generally, when I get off work late, instead of going home and preparing a meal at that hour, I grab a bite to eat on the way.'