The Japanese drink of green tea (ocha / cha) remains popular all over Japan. Made from green, unfermented Japanese tea leaves (or in the case of matcha, used in tea ceremonies, powdered tea leaves), it is usually drunk from earthenware cups or bowls, the drinker holding the cup/bowl in one hand and supporting it from beneath with the other. Unlike black tea, green tea is drunk without milk or sugar. The characters in many different anime series can often be seen drinking green tea — for example, episode 13 of the Tenchi Muyo! OVA series (“Here Comes Jurai”) shows green tea being prepared by Yosho in the usual method. It is considered a good omen to find a tea stalk floating upright in the cup — something seen several times in the Tenchi in Tokyo and Tenchi Muyo! GXP series.

Sake (pronounced sa-keh, sometimes written saki or saké for clarity) is a popular alcoholic drink made from rice. Also referred to as nihonshu (since the term sake is often used to refer to all alcoholic drinks), it has an alcohol content of 10-20%, and can be drunk hot or cold. Not all sake is alike — similar to wine, sake can be sweet or dry depending upon the brewing process and the ingredients used, and its alcohol content may be higher or lower either as a result of natural fermentation or, particularly with mass-produced brands, the addition of pure distilled alcohol.

The characters in Tenchi Muyo! (Ryoko in particular) can often be seen enjoying sake. Take note that most references to alcohol have been removed or re-dubbed in the censored TV version of Tenchi, making for some slightly bemusing scenes of the characters getting tipsy from drinking “tea”!

When dining in Japan, particularly when eating Japanese food, it is polite to follow traditional table manners.

Before beginning a meal, it is polite to say “itadakimasu”. The literal translation is “[I] gratefully receive”, though you will often find it translated in subtitled anime as “bon appétit”, “thank you for the food“, “let's eat”, etc. After the meal, diners should say “gochisōsama deshita” (which may also be shortened to “gochisōsama” or “gochisōsan”), meaning “that was a feast”.

Diners kneel at a low table (chabudai) to eat Japanese food. Most Japanese food is eaten using hashi (chopsticks). Japanese chopsticks differ from Chinese ones (kuaizi) — Japanese chopsticks are usually shorter and more sharply tapered. Chopsticks have a number of rules of etiquette. Waving or pointing with chopsticks is not polite, nor is spearing food on the end, using them to pull a plate or bowl closer to you, or licking the chopsticks. For reasons of hygiene, food from a shared plate should be transferred to the bowl using the blunt ends. Sticking the chopsticks directly into food, especially rice, and passing food to someone else with them are both definite no-nos (as these actions are similar to Japanese funeral customs).

Aside from chopsticks, spoons may be used for some Japanese foods (e.g. for curried rice, soups and some noodle dishes), but it is more usual to drink soups, etc. directly from the bowl. It is not considered bad manners to slurp when eating noodles and soups. Western food is eaten with a knife and fork.

Other Japanese food referenced in Tenchi Muyo and its related shows:

Gohan (Cooked rice)		Rice is the staple Japanese food, and Japan's climate is ideal for growing the crop. The importance of rice in the Japanese diet is reflected in the words for breakfast (asagohan), lunch (hirugohan) and supper (yūgohan), which literally translate as “morning rice”, “noon rice” and “evening rice”. Cooked white rice can be eaten for any meal, and can be served with many other foods, including fish, meat and vegetables. Rice is also used as a base for many other dishes. Onigiri () are rice balls wrapped in seaweed, often with fish or pickles in the centre. Osenbei () are rice crackers, which are crunchy and salty. Rice is also used in sushi and many other dishes.
Gyūdon (Beef-bowl)		Gyūdon or “beef-bowl” is a dish of rice served with slices of beef on top. In episode 19 of Tenchi Universe, the gang stop for dinner at a beef-bowl restaurant on a space station.
Kōri (Shaved ice)		Kōri or kakigōri is a refreshing dish to eat on a hot summer's day; a bowl of shaved or chipped ice flavoured with fruit syrup. Tenchi and the girls eat this in Tenchi Universe episode 20.
Misoshiru (Miso soup)		A soup made from soy beans. Miso soup is prepared by pouring hot water over a thick soy bean paste, and is often eaten with white rice. Ryoko likes her miso soup with extra salt!
Nattō		A sticky paste of fermented soy beans usually eaten with rice, mustard, spring onions and soy sauce. Kiyone and Mihoshi have nattō at breakfast in Pretty Sammy OVA episode 1 (and Kiyone's tantrum results in them both getting covered in it!).
Rāmen		Pronounced rah-men. Rāmen, Chinese-style noodles, are a popular dish in Japan. Rāmen noodles are served with vegetables, meat, seafood and a whole range of other ingredients. Kiyone orders a bowl of rāmen at the restaurant in the first story of Tenchi Universe episode 12 (Time & Space Adventures: Part Two). The girls can also be seen eating cup rāmen in episode 1 of Tenchi in Tokyo (although in the English dub they are referred to as “instant soup”).
Satsumaimo (sweet potatoes)		Sweet potatoes are grown extensively in Japan, and they make several appearances in the Tenchi series, where the characters bake them inside a pile of burning leaves. This is seen in episode 3 of Tenchi Universe, and at the end of the movie Tenchi Forever. We also see young Tenchi cooking a sweet potato over a fire in Ryoko's memories of his childhood in Tenchi Muyo! OVA episodes 5 and 11.
Sukiyaki		Sukiyaki is a dish of tofu, vegetables and meat (usually beef). The price of quality meat can be quite high in Japan, so sukiyaki is often considered quite a treat. Sasami is promised a sukiyaki meal if she does well at school in Magical Project S episode 3.
Yakisoba		Yakisoba are fried buckwheat noodles, often served with vegetables. Mihoshi and Kiyone run a yakisoba stall at the carnival in episode 7 of Tenchi Universe.

The kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that can be worn by both men and women. The kimono itself is a long loose robe with wide sleeves. It is made from silk, and is tied across the waist or midriff with a broad sash or belt (the obi). Typically, it is worn with other traditional garments, including underwear, socks and footwear (either setta — leather sandals, or geta — wooden sandals). Men can also wear kimono with hakama, a type of loose pleated trouser, and hōri, a jacket tied with a braided cord. The style and colour of kimono and obi, and the footwear and accessories worn depend upon the gender, age and marital status of the wearer, as well as the occasion for which they are used. Kimono are highly treasured garments, as they are usually quite expensive.

Although kimono are generally only used for formal occasions (e.g. weddings, ceremonies, etc.), a similar and more commonly-used garment called a yukata can be worn on hot days, after bathing, when attending local festivities or visiting a temple. Yukata are made of plainer cotton fabric as opposed to highly decorative silk, and do not require the traditional underwear, socks and shoes of the kimono outfit.

Observant viewers of “Tenchi Muyo“ will notice that the clothing worn by members of the Jurai royal family bears some resemblance to traditional kimono or yukata outfits. You can also see Tenchi's grandfather, Katsuhito, wearing hakama, the pleated trousers often worn with a man's kimono.

Bathing is an important part of Japanese life; it is usual to take one bath a day, either in your own bathroom or at a public bath house. Bathing is not intended solely as a way of keeping oneself clean; it is also meant to be a way to relax after the stresses of the day.

The characters in the Tenchi series can often be seen taking part in the normal Japanese bathing ritual (as normal as is possible in a huge airborne bath house or alternative dimension bathroom, that is). First, the bather washes themselves thoroughly with soap and cold water (using either a basin or shower), before taking a soak in the hot tub (furo). No soap or shampoo is used in the tub itself. After soaking, it is common to leave the bath, wash and rinse again before returning for a final soak, but some people prefer just one wash and a long soak.

In Japanese homes, the “bathroom” is precisely that — a room containing the bath, and is totally separate from the toilet (benjo). Japanese bathrooms also have a separate changing area ahead of the bathroom itself.

Public bath houses are a popular place to visit in Japan. The bathing ritual is the same, but the hot tub is instead a shared bath, sometimes supplied with water from natural hot springs. The men and women's bathing areas are kept separate. Although public baths are communal, it is considered bad manners to wear a bathing suit or trunks in the bath. A small towel or washcloth is provided, which the bather should also use to discreetly cover their modesty — the bathing areas may be communal, but that is not a license for exhibitionism!

Similar to public bath houses are hot spring resorts, where bathers soak in an outdoor pool (rotemburo) filled with water from natural hot springs (onsen). Japan, being a volcanic country, has a great number of natural hot springs. Tenchi and family visit a hot springs resort in episodes 4 and 9 of the Tenchi Muyo! OVA series.

When entering a Japanese home, one must pay particular attention to the footwear used. Outdoor shoes are removed at the entrance, and slippers must be worn indoors (slippers are provided for visitors as well as the house's occupants). When entering a room with a tatami floor (woven straw mats), the slippers must be removed altogether. Different slippers are also provided for entering the toilet. With this regular changing of footwear, it's wise to make sure your socks don't have holes in them!

The futon is a traditional form of Japanese bedding. Although Western-style beds are popular in Japan today, futons remain in common use, not least because they can be folded and stored when not in use, meaning the room can be used for other purposes. The under-futon (shikibuton) is a thick cotton quilt laid on the floor, on top of which is laid a feather bedspread (kakebuton). The pillow (makura) is traditionally stuffed with buckwheat chaff, but down (feathers) or kapok (a cotton-like stuffing material) are used as alternatives. Futons are usually laid on floors covered with tatami — woven straw mats. Futons must be regularly aired outside to keep them fresh, especially in areas of Japan with a humid climate.

A kotatsu is a piece of furniture often found in Japanese households. They consist of a low table with an electric or charcoal heater underneath and a heavy quilted drape (a kotatsugake or kotatsubuton) around the edge to retain the heat. These are often used in cold weather to keep the feet and legs warm. In episode 9 of Tenchi Universe, Ryoko is sitting at a kotatsu as she cannot stand the cold weather. She also has one in her hideout in the Mihoshi Special OVA. Mihoshi has one aboard her shuttle in Tenchi Muyo! OVA episode 4.