My Grandma, who is quite Japanese yells at me when I do so when I'm visiting ehr. But I honestly think it's okay to do so. My grandma's just a strict, up tight little asian lady.

My maternal grandmother grew up in Taiwan during Japanese occupation, and she slurped to the end of her days. I've heard it's acceptable, but not actually required for proper decorum-- and I'd imagine it'd be universally obnoxious to do so particularly loudly. I've also heard that slurping (not the sound itself, but the configuration of one's mouth and the action of slurping) somehow helps to cool down the soup a bit before it reaches the inside of one's mouth.

This video pretty much explains it. In short people do it because it makes the food taste better. It's accepted and has no other meaning.

http://youtu.be/nZJeuWhsSK8

It's usually expected when eating noodles. There's also another purpose. Ramen is usually served piping hot and if a busy person is trying to consume it as quickly as possible, the most efficient way to cool it off as you're eating is to suck and slurp rather than to blow on the noodles.

I do not mind. I am a tourist when i am there so no one practically knows me
However, i will not force it or act like i am slurping it loud...But if it was and i bet it is a good ramen so sure why not

Slurping sounds gross. I don't intentionally do it and I try to avoid it.

I do it either way because I want to.

so the general consensus is that it isn't nice, but it isn't rude either... so if it happens it happens... another good question is, Do japanese noodle dishes tend to be harder to avoid slurping, say compared to italian noodle dishes.

Slurping splashes soup everywhere. All over your lips, on the table, on your clothes. It's kind of gross imo. I'm sure no Japanese ramen chef will actually be livid with anger if you don't slurp their noodles lol.

I was told that it's ok to slurp so you can get some of soup with the noodle...
Only American has problem with slurping O.O

Isn't that the point of having a big spoon with your chopsticks so that you can get some soup with your noodle? You don't really need to slurp for that...

And I'm pretty sure it's not just America where slurping is frowned upon.

except we dont eat noodle with spoon O.O, chopsticks all the way...

Do you guys eat rice with chopsticks? Because I feel like an idiot every time I try.

I do. It's fun and challenging. The trick is to use the stickiness of the rice. Also, try to do a scooping motion, like you would with a fork.

I tend to slurp when I eat "ramen." (Of course the only kind I can get around here are instant noodles.) It helps to cool the noodles a little more after blowing on them and it helps cool the ends of the noodles that were still in the broth. Also I think it helps with the flavor as well. They say that 80% of the sense of taste is smell. By slurping in some air along with the noodles and broth and allowing that air, rich with the aroma of the broth, to enter your nasal passages you can better bring out the flavors versus not slurping. At least that's how I think it works.

I really don't mind if others slurp when eating hot noodles and I tend not to hold back myself. I don't go overboard trying to be loud or anything, I just slurp enough to ensure maximum enjoyment.

*sigh* I really wish there was a real ramen shop in my area. I did a yellowpages search and the closest hits I got were in Toronto and that's an hour's drive away. Kinda far to go for a ramen fix. Getting sick of instant stuff, I wanna try something more authentic.