I think it’s a combination of the ‘we use this trough for everyone all day’ and the fact that the name is really similar to ‘semen,’ but this sounds highly unappealing.
It is unappealing. I would not eat at a place like that. Some do have separate chopsticks for catching the somen (long o, so probably sounds less like semen than you might think), but it’s still not great. I have seen it at family events as well.
It’s probably more sanitary in Japan, but in the US I could see the guy sitting in the both next to me sneezing directly into the water, licking his chopsticks before attempting (and missing) some noodles. Then giving up and using his hands, that he didn’t wash after coming back from the toilet.
The sanitary level of Japan is grossly (sic) overestimated. Barely anyone washes their hands after using the bathroom, so many men cough and sneeze without any effort to stop the spray.
In winter, Noro virus infection is a given at least once, while in other countries it’s barely known.
I think it’s a combination of the ‘we use this trough for everyone all day’ and the fact that the name is really similar to ‘semen,’ but this sounds highly unappealing.
It is unappealing. I would not eat at a place like that. Some do have separate chopsticks for catching the somen (long o, so probably sounds less like semen than you might think), but it’s still not great. I have seen it at family events as well.
apparently the noodles are served cold and that sounds awful as well
It’s probably more sanitary in Japan, but in the US I could see the guy sitting in the both next to me sneezing directly into the water, licking his chopsticks before attempting (and missing) some noodles. Then giving up and using his hands, that he didn’t wash after coming back from the toilet.
Kind of like buffets.
The sanitary level of Japan is grossly (sic) overestimated. Barely anyone washes their hands after using the bathroom, so many men cough and sneeze without any effort to stop the spray. In winter, Noro virus infection is a given at least once, while in other countries it’s barely known.