Why do Japanese people take off their shoes first when eating?

In fact, Japanese people don't take off their shoes when eating to protect their host's tatami from being trampled. Due to the influence of Japanese living environment, Japanese people like to sleep on tatami. But the tatami is not high, and the tatami laid indoors will be easily trampled. Therefore, in order to protect these tatami, the Japanese will take off their shoes first when eating, and this habit has been formed over time.

In addition, there may often be a series of dirty things under the soles, such as sediment. If you put your shoes in so rashly, you will dirty the tatami laid indoors. Therefore, Japanese people will take off their shoes first when they enter other people's homes or want to eat. But this will have a particularly important problem, that is, if the guest is a person with smelly feet, it is unrealistic to let the guest take off his shoes.

But Japanese people don't have to worry about their guests' feet. First of all, the ventilation design of Japanese houses is very good, and their building materials are all very breathable materials. If the feet of guests or family members stink, they can quickly dispel the smell as long as they open the window in time.

The Japanese will also prepare a pair of clean socks for their guests to change into, so that their feet will not stink from boredom. In order to solve the problem of foot odor, the Japanese also produced various deodorant socks. In fact, it can be cured after a series of treatments such as foot odor spraying, taking medicine and soaking feet. Therefore, for the Japanese, smelly feet can't stop their determination to take off their shoes before eating.

It can be seen that the Japanese take off their shoes before eating in order not to damage and dirty the tatami laid in the living room. They'll get used to it. It's been handed down for so many years.