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Is it a rumor that while eating we should eat really loudly to be polite, or is it actually true?

In practice do people actually do that?

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I've also heard loudly slurping noodles is a compliment to the chef. But referring to the wiki on 蕎麦, it only says in order to enjoy the aroma and the feeling of the broth going down one's throat, making noise while eating is permitted, "そばの香りや喉越しを楽しむために食べるときに音を立てることが許され" bit.ly/nnw7Uv – Louis Aug 7 '11 at 18:54
only in reference to eating noodles. – Mark Hosang Aug 8 '11 at 1:17
I've been told by just about every Japanese (and Korean) person I've ever eaten ramen (or ramyeon) with that I have to slurp them. It's not because the noise is polite but because it's the "right" way to eat them. I believe because you suck air in at the same time which cools the noodles down just right. I've also been reminded in Japan that in any case it's not Japanese tradition since ramen came from China originally. Also I don't know if the same applies to udon or soba which I think I never ate with local friends. – hippietrail Aug 8 '11 at 14:35
@Pacerier: You might consider asking this as an example question on the Culture Exchange proposal. – hippietrail Aug 8 '11 at 14:37
@hippietrail heys cool thx for the link. wasn't aware japanese cultural questions are out of scope here.. – Pacerier Aug 8 '11 at 15:28
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closed as off topic by Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams, ento, Tsuyoshi Ito, istrasci, sawa Aug 7 '11 at 17:26

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