There is a word in Japanese: “Itadakimasu.”
In Japan, itadakimasu is a word naturally spoken before beginning a meal.
It is often translated as “I humbly receive.” But what this word points to goes far beyond eating itself.
Itadakimasu means receiving not only the food in front of us, but also the time it took to reach us, the hands of those who grew it, and the gifts of nature.It is not a special philosophy, but a deeply rooted part of everyday life in Japan. It is a quiet habit of placing gratitude back in the heart for everything connected to food.
In busy daily life, meals can sometimes become something we simply get through. Yet within the single word itadakimasu is the power to pause the flow and return our awareness to the present moment. Even when we are in a hurry, even when our thoughts feel scattered, saying the word can steady the breath. With the word, some people gently bring their hands together in front of their chest.
Itadakimasu is not so much a signal to begin, but a way of preparing ourselves to truly face what is in front of us. By bringing our hands together, we may find ourselves turning back to the food before us.
In Japan, food has long been understood as something that is not only made, but also received. Grown within the cycles of nature, shaped by human hands, and finally arriving before us. Itadakimasu invites us to imagine that long journey and to become aware that we are receiving life. That is why, whether spoken aloud or kept quietly within, what matters is placing our attention on that brief moment.
A short moment before a meal begins. That small pause may gently soften the rhythm of everyday life.