" I stuck the sticks into my rice bowl. Imagine you neighbor's expression if, while at the table, you suddenly shot his dog. "

I think I know that one. If you stuck your sticks upright in the rice bowl, that's a Shinto funeral practice, very unlucky, and in a way a virtual invitation to Death to enter the home.

I am confident there is no way to enter another culture and get everything right. I once say a very correct foreign person enter a Canadian diner and absolutely go to pieces after offending the entire place with one inquiry. Myself, I just do my best and count on goodwill and understanding. So far there have been no attempts on my life.