In Japan, meal blessing is an important tradition dating back centuries. It involves expressing gratitude for the food that has been prepared and the people who are sharing it. There are several different ways to bless a meal in Japan, such as using sake or salt, chopsticks or clapping hands before eating. Meal blessing is seen as an expression of gratitude towards those who have provided the food, both physically and spiritually, and it helps to create an atmosphere of harmony before everyone begins their meal together. Common phrases used for meal blessing include "itadakimasu" ("I humbly receive") and "gochisousama desu" ("thank you for preparing this wonderful feast").