I did not know this as being a staple of Japanese culture. There were brief scenes of doing this before eating and what looked like contemplation before lit candles. Does anybody know who or what are they are praying to?
shareI would be interested in more information about this too. I think it was some kind of Shinto or Buddhist ritual. It appeared that they were praying to (or for) their ancestors - I think it was specifically their Grandmother in the film.
shareIt is more of a Buddhist practice. At the meal, it is like saying a grace. Family has a shrine at their home dedicated to their ancestors to remember them. In this movie, a room is set aside for this purpose but usually a small shrine with pictures of their ancestors. They place flowers and foods and pray for their soul and ask for guidance.
shareI went to a very interesting talk, here in London, by a Buddhist monk who was cook, chef, at his small temple in Tokyo. Because it was in the city, the monks couldn't grow their own food, he just bought it from shops like anyone else, but prepared it in a very specific way. Very simple, no spices or anything, so the natural flavour of the food can be appreciated. His recipe for corn soup contained corn and water, that's all.
And he told us that when you say itadakimasu, which literally means '(I/we) humbly receive', before you start eating, you give thought to those who planted and cultivated the crop, to the sun and rain that helped it grow, those who harvested it, transported it, prepared it for sale, as well as those who bought it, cooked it, brought it to table. The whole process by which the food you eat comes to you.
It always annoys me when itadakimasu is translated in the English subtitles as 'Let's eat' or 'I'm starving!' or even such vulgarities as 'chow time!'. That's not what's being said at all.