Japanese TikToker Shows How To Reserve Seat In Local Food Courts, S’poreans Compare It To ‘Chope-ing’

Singaporeans Compare Method Of Reserving Seats In Japanese TikToker’s Video To ‘Chope-ing’

Few things bring Singaporeans together quite like the fine art of ‘chope-ing’.

More than just local lingo, it’s a practice that binds us together and cements our identity as true blue Singaporeans, much like lining up for BBT or watching the NDP.

In fact, it recently got folks to swarm the comments section of a Japanese TikToker’s video, which showed a way of reserving tables in food courts that’s basically like chope-ing.

Singaporean netizens were quick to point out that this is a common practice here as well.

Japanese TikToker shows people chope-ing seats with bags and phones

TikTok user @matcha_samurai posted the video on Monday (22 Aug), and it has since gone viral with over 360,000 views.

Titled ‘How to save your seat in (a) food court in Japan’, the clip shows the 24-year-old walking through a food court showing random items left by Japanese patrons to reserve tables.

A number of tables have towels on them, while others have bags, tumblers, and even phones.

Throughout the video, the content creator looks amused and amazed by the various valuable items left unattended.

“Look! You (can) just leave your phone on a table,” he exclaims at one point.

He ends the video by saying “Only in Japan”, implying that this is something unique to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Singaporeans educate TikToker about chope-ing

Singaporeans never waste any time in defending something that we proudly claim is ours, and that was certainly the case for @matcha_samurai’s video.

Many took the opportunity to introduce OP to the term “chope”.

One netizen suggested that this is a mark of countries that are safe.

Some Singaporeans even taught him about the finer details of chope-ing, which led @matcha_samurai to quip that he should move to our little red dot.

Of course, there were numerous mentions of tissue packs, the most common device for chope-ing.

This user even had a theory that the practice was brought to Japan from Singapore.

Meanwhile, a cheeky netizen tried to promote Singapore tourism, albeit in a, erm, rather unconventional way.

Netizens from other countries point out their differences

The conversation around the video grew to a point where even netizens from other countries started chiming in.

For instance, one Indonesian shared that she ‘uses’ her grandma to reserve a seat.

Meanwhile, netizens from other countries said that their things would be stolen if they were to do the same.

One commenter from Malaysia said the same can be done there, but things will mysteriously ‘disappear’.

Another user all the way from the States lamented she can’t even leave a simple flower pot outside of her home without it going missing.

Cool to see Singaporeans banding together for ‘chope’

Seeing how chope-ing also takes place in Japan shows that finding a table at an eatery is a universal struggle.

We’re glad that Singaporeans were able to get their point across in a civil, light-hearted way, instead of sending hate.

At a time when many of us are divided over more delicate issues, it’s reassuring to see that people can still come together over some traditions.

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Featured image adapted from TikTok.