一いっ本ぽん箸ばし

noun

single chopstick stuck upright in rice offered to the deceased

A Japanese funeral custom: a single chopstick is placed vertically in a bowl of rice as an offering to the dead. This practice is strongly taboo in everyday dining.

• 葬そう儀ぎでは、故こ人じんに一いっ本ぽん箸ばしを立たてたご飯はんを供そなえる。

  At a funeral, a bowl of rice with a single chopstick stuck upright is offered to the deceased.

• 食しょく事じ中ちゅうに箸はしを一いっ本ぽんだけご飯はんに突つき刺さすのは一いっ本ぽん箸ばしと呼よばれ、縁えん起ぎが悪わるいとされる。

  Sticking a single chopstick upright into rice during a meal is called ippon-bashi and is considered unlucky.