Why do Japanese people like to say "I'm going to start" before eating?

Since ancient times, Japanese people have a sense of awe and gratitude for food. They think food is a gift from heaven. They should use this sentence to express their gratitude for the food when eating. At the same time, the Japanese pay special attention to etiquette. When a family eats or eats with others, the Japanese always use the phrase "I'm going to start" to remind everyone to share food together.

Japan is a big island country with extremely scarce natural resources and underdeveloped agriculture. It can be said that Japan has been hungry since ancient times. This kind of hungry life makes Japanese people very hungry for food. When they get food, they cherish food very much and regard food as an important source for the continuation of life. Therefore, the Japanese always say "I'm going to start" before eating to express God's care for them.

Secondly, Japan is a country with very complicated etiquette. Say hello when you meet people, bow when you face your elders, and show respect for others by saying "I'm going to start". This sentence is actually a good interaction before eating, that is, telling everyone that it is time to eat, and everyone should come to eat. Moreover, this sentence also means to ask, that is, to ask for the consent of others when it is time to eat.

Finally, the Japanese saying "I'm going to start" is actually a compliment to the chef, expressing a very expectant tone and gratitude to the chef, which fully shows a courtesy between Japanese people.