passing bones between chopsticks at a funeral
Refers to the ritual at a Japanese cremation where family members use chopsticks to pass bone fragments into the urn. This specific act is the origin of the taboo against passing food directly between chopsticks.
When performing hashiwatashi at a funeral, the bone is transferred from chopsticks to chopsticks without using hands.
passing food between chopsticks (taboo)
A breach of Japanese dining etiquette, considered taboo because it resembles the funeral ritual. Also refers to two people picking up the same piece of food simultaneously. Related to 拾い箸.
See also: 拾い箸
It is said to be unlucky to pass food from chopsticks to chopsticks during a meal.
Compound of 箸 (hashi, 'chopsticks') and 渡し (watashi, 'passing'). The term originates from the funeral custom of passing cremated bones between chopsticks, which later gave rise to the dining taboo.