Eating using chopsticks is common in some parts of the sushi experience. Or more correctly - the sashimi experience. Many people say that using chopsticks eating nigiri sushi actually is wrong and that you should use your hands. If you still choose to use chopsticks, the sushi chef will pick up on this and have to press your nigiri sushi rice harder than he would have if you were using your hands as you are supposed to. The nigiri sushi is supposed to just dissolve and melt in your mouth almost without having to chew it… mmmmm.

But - eating sashimi and some modern rolls that are covered in some sort of sauce, you use your chopsticks. So I have gathered some rules on etiquette and some general pointers on how you do that.

First a bit of etiquette.
In some restaurants you are given a pair of the disposable wooden chopsticks (waribashi) that are hinged together at the top. I see a lot of Norwegians at least split their chopsticks and rub the two of them together to get rid of “splinters”. It implies that the chopsticks have splinters and are cheap, and are considered insulting your host. If you must, or the disposable chopsticks really do splinter when you snap them apart, rub them together discreetly, not in view of all or better - discretely ask for a new pair. I did not know this, and when you are a novice, you mimic other peoples behavior, so I am sure I have done this on several occations. I hope I have not insulted anyone too much with my ignorance…

You should never waive the chopsticks over food when having a meal. That is considered poor manners. Choose in your head - then manouver over. That means you never poke food with the tips of the chopsticks either. If the table settings include serving spoons or chopsticks, use them instead of your own set to get yourself food.

At sushi bars you usually get a little “pillow” to rest your chopsticks on. Leave them there below your bowl or plate. The points should face to the left if you’re right-handed, or the opposite way if you’re left-handed. Do not stick them into a bowl of rice because it resembles ancestral offerings and is frowned upon. Also align your chopsticks tightly together.

Don’t take one chopstick in each hand OR spear food with your chopsticks as an act of desperation. In regards to eating Chinese food I heard that that might be acceptable (not sure though), but in eating sushi is considered impolite.

Do not suck on the tip of the chopsticks.

How to use chopsticks:

Practice makes perfect when it comes to using chopsticks, and there are several types of techniques out there, just look around you when you are at a sushi bar and try and find your own. I think one key is that you let the bottom chopstick remains still while the upper chopstick moves when you take the piece of food.

See? Not that hard, was it? When I realized that it was not really two moving chopsticks but that one is pretty much steady all the time, it became much easier. As I said - practise makes perfect. You can do it!

Moro info on using chopsticks:

EHow.com - How to use chopsticks

Dummies.com - how to use chopsticks

SushiFAQ - how to use chopsticks