khawla wrote: I find that highly disgusting too and a friend who's living in Japan has said the sucking noise does tend to happen a lot, but I wonder if that's really the way the majority of the people eat over there?
The sucking noise is considered a sign of appreciation for the food. Therefore, it's a true habit, not only in dramas.
I reassert that It's rude to criticize a custom, but I myself can't grow out of what has been basically drilled into my brain since I was a small kid: NEVER do noise while eating. Never eat with your mouth full!!!
So, although I'm ready to comform to any rule of the country I go to, this one would be a truly hard one, if not impossible, to abide to.