"Itadakimasu" and "Gochisousamadeshita"

 "Itadakimasu: いただきます"　

 "Gochisousamadeshita: ごちそうさまでした"

   I think that many foreign people have heard these words, "Itadakimasu" and "gochisousamadeshita." Both of them mean thanks for food. We say "Itadakimasu" before meals and "Gochisousamadeshita" after meals. When I was little, I was taught by my parents these words early. I think many Japanese people are same as me. Therefore many Japanese people say it unconciously whenever we eat something. Even if we are in a restaurant alone, we say it without aloud.

     By the way, today's afternoon sweets is "Mame daifuku." It was 128 yen at a supermarket. "Mamedaifuku" is rice cake with salty beans stuffed with red bean paste. Red bean paste is very sweet, and rice cake with beans is a little salty. This conbination is delicious! I eat this with green tea. Daifuku is written as "大福" in Kanji. "大" means big, and "福" means lucky. If you come to Japan, please try it! you can buy it at supermarkets or convenience stores easily.