• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    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.

    • ArgentRaven@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      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.

      • tiredofsametab@fedia.io
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        2 months ago

        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.

        Tell me you’ve never spent long in Japan without telling me you’ve never spent long in Japan. We had a problem during corona where people would remove their masks to sneeze or cough. We have tons of gross people over here.

        • PlatDrone@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          At least they were wearing their masks, many people I worked with during the pandemic kept masks in their pockets or hanging from the rear view mirror in their cars, but refused to wear them for any reason.

      • suction@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        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.

    • tiredofsametab@fedia.io
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      2 months ago

      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.