Itadakimasu
- Leigh Gerstenberger
- Oct 13
- 1 min read
While having lunch with a friend recently who had lived in Japan for may years, he shared a one word prayer that the Japanese say before a meal.
The word, itadakimasu is a polite Japanese phrase said before eating to express gratitude for the meal and everyone involved in its creation. Literally meaning "I humbly receive", it acknowledges the life of the plants and animals that make up the food and thanks the cooks, farmers, and others who brought it to the table.
The term itadakimasu can be traced back to ancient Japan's Asuka period when Buddhism was the dominant religion in the region.
The Japanese believe that the integration of the word itadakimasu in their culture has impacted their society in their values of mindfulness and community. Furthermore they feel that the joy of sharing a loving experience with others, through the simple gesture of gratitude and respect towards food, nature, and one another is ingrained into their culture by the use of this phrase.
As this word is taught at a young age in Japanese culture, the Japanese believe that it influences their children's emotional development by educating them that the words they use have a larger emotional meaning to them, and that there is a reason to put one’s feelings into them.
The phoenitic pronunciation of “itadakimasu” is "ee-tah-dah-kee-mas" with the final “u” being silent. Here’s a brief video that describes the correct pronunciation.
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