いただきます (itadakimasu) is the Japanese expression spoken before meals, literally meaning “I humbly receive,” which became a global Instagram and food blogging hashtag from 2012 onward. The phrase reflects Japanese cultural values of gratitude toward food, farmers, and cooks, and was adopted internationally by food photographers, travelers in Japan, and anime/Japanese culture enthusiasts documenting meals.
Instagram Food Culture
Food bloggers and travelers to Japan began using #いただきます and #itadakimasu when posting ramen, sushi, bento boxes, and kaiseki meals (2012-2023). The hashtag signaled cultural respect and authentic Japanese dining experiences, distinguishing posts from generic food photography. Many users included both native script and romanization to educate followers on proper usage and pronunciation.
Anime and Manga Influence
Anime viewers familiar with pre-meal rituals from shows like “Food Wars!,” “Yuru Camp,” and slice-of-life series adopted the hashtag when sharing food content (2015+). The phrase became shorthand for Japanese culinary appreciation, often paired with #anime, #Japanesefood, and #kawaii tags. Food-focused anime and manga normalized the expression for international audiences.
Cultural Education
Japanese language and culture accounts used the hashtag to explain the philosophy behind itadakimasu: recognizing the life of ingredients, labor of cooks, and chain of gratitude in food preparation (2017-2023). Posts contrasted it with “gochisousama” (ごちそうさま - “thank you for the meal” after eating), teaching complete dining etiquette. The hashtag became a gateway to broader discussions of Japanese mindfulness and respect culture.
Related: #Gochisousama #JapaneseFood #Ramen #Bento #AnimeFood
Sources:
- Instagram food trends 2012-2023
- Japan National Tourism Organization
- Japanese language education platforms