Matt Fargo (65 page)

sumimasen

Tipping is not practiced in Japan. But it’s completely acceptable to get the waiter’s attention by banging on your table and throwing silverware while yelling “sumimasen!” Waiters are basically at your beck and call. On the other hand, it’s not acceptable practice to ask for certain ingredients to be left out of a dish, or for less salt, or for a doggy bag to take your leftovers home in. The following sorts of situations are where you want to use sumimasen.