Irasshaimase!

This means `Welcome!`, and you hear it A LOT. Whenever you go into any type of extablishment, you are greeted with this phrase. Kinda like when they say `hello` at Blockbuster, only louder and everyone says it.

In fact, they say it when you come in, when you leave and whenever anyone else comes in or leaves. They say it so much (and thank you as well) that it becomes a sing-song, call and response thing that all the staff do during your entire stay.

It may sound annoying, and at first it kinda is, but you get used to it, and you even find yourself kinda groovin` to the irasshaimase / gozaimas` beat. Strange.

Also, before you eat, you should say Itadakimas`. Which is sort of like a mini-blessing / grace only not religious just social niceity. Like saying `This I receive`. When you are done, you are supposed to say `Go-chisosamadesh`ta`. Or `What a feast that was!` Or words to that effect.

For a mini-example of the Irasshaimase thing, watch Monsters Inc. when they go into the sushi restaurant (Harry Hausen`s).