Good table manners are encouraged in Japanese dining rituals. When eating rice, take the bowl in one hand and chopsticks in another and lift it to your mouth, while taking your chopsticks to "scoop" the rice into your mouth. This prevents you from dropping food. When you do not get a soupspoon, it is proper to drink the soup out of the bowl and eat the solid food with chopsticks. The drawing of a hand on the outer surface of the bowl enlightens and reminds the guest to lift the bowl when eating.
