I always get nervous when dining at upscale restaurants.

I’m Taro, a male member. You probably need a certain amount of experience, but it’s not really that difficult. I think the essence of good manners is simply being aware of your surroundings. If you’re worried about it, read through and master the basics in a book on table manners or something similar. A basic one is fine—you don’t need the advanced stuff. After that, just express it when something tastes good or when you’re having fun. Ideally, it’s also good if you can put into words why you feel that way. Saying something like, “I usually only go to izakayas,” is slightly embarrassing, but if you’re a young woman, I think that’s perfectly acceptable. From the perspective of someone who cooks, I do want at least a minimum amount of respect for a meal I’ve worked hard to prepare. But beyond that, what I really want to know is whether you genuinely enjoyed it and thought it was delicious. Anyone who does professional work feels the same way. So formal, scripted reactions don’t make me happy at all. Of course, since I’m a professional, I won’t react awkwardly and will just say, “Thank you very much,” and move on… People who are used to going to nice restaurants are probably trying to have an interaction that’s a little more personal, rather than just exchanging polite pleasantries. The young women they bring along are the same. Being “young” and “female” is actually an advantage here. As long as you observe the basic manners, stay mindful of showing respect for the restaurant and the chef, and express your gratitude in your own words, that’s perfect. Not many people can do that. That’s just how people are. On the other hand, if a young woman who’s still inexperienced and somewhat immature in various ways can do those things, I think a man will fall for her—assuming he’s the kind of man who understands and appreciates it.

I thought exactly the same thing as Nana. People our age are something else. Marika

I’m Rin, a female member of SALON. I do get nervous at high-end restaurants. I wonder what I should wear and things like that. As for dining etiquette, I feel Japanese cuisine can be more difficult. Still, unless you have truly terrible table manners, I think you’ll be fine. I’ve never thought about it too seriously. I believe you just need to avoid doing things you wouldn’t want someone else to do to you.

I’m Basil, a male member. As long as she isn’t extremely vulgar, I don’t really mind. If she’s nervous, it means she’s conscious of her manners, so she’s already above the bare minimum.

I’m Nana Ayase ☆ If you always make an effort not to rest your elbows on the table, hold your chopsticks properly, and avoid chewing with your mouth open, it’ll become second nature. You feel nervous because you’re not used to having good table manners. A lot of people eat with their elbows on the table, don’t push their chairs back in, or chew with their mouths open. Take a good look at yourself and the people around you.

I’m Aya, a female member. Seriously though, nervousness often comes from not knowing enough about what you’re dealing with. If you look up proper etiquette online and get the basics down, you’ll no longer feel like you’re completely clueless about manners, which should help ease the tension a little. I also get anxious when I don’t know the dress code, so I do quite a bit of research beforehand. And I tend to say things like “Thank you” to the staff pretty often. Some people say it’s more sophisticated not to, but I’ve always had low self-esteem, so whenever someone does something for me, I end up being overly deferential.

I’m Maezawa from the CEO’s office, and I’ll answer as well. Some men may pay attention to those things, but I don’t think many would make their decision based on that alone. In the end, I think it comes down to whether they enjoy spending time with you. And if you’re nervous, you could tell him that and ask to meet somewhere you’d feel more comfortable.