【Reading】おあいそ

【English Name】Oaiso / Check please

"Oaiso" is jargon heard at sushi restaurants and Japanese eateries when requesting to settle the bill.

The original meaning of this word is aiso (hospitality/courtesy); originally it was an expression in which the shop presenting the bill would say "oaiso ga nakute osoreirimasu" ("forgive us for our lack of hospitality"), apologizing to the customer for the awkwardness of bringing up the matter of money. In other words, it can be interpreted as a phrase coming from the mouth of the chef or shop owner, not something to be uttered by the customer's side.

If a customer says "oaiso," there is a risk of it being taken as "my goodwill has run out = I won't come again," and there are persistent voices that it should be avoided in terms of etiquette. It would be safer to instead say "okaikei" or "okanjo" ("the bill").

That said, in modern times "oaiso = the bill" has become thoroughly established in society. At an actual sushi restaurant, scarcely any scene can be found where a customer uttering this word would be reproached. As one word composing the jargon culture unique to sushi restaurants—alongside agari (tea), murasaki (soy sauce), and shari (vinegared rice)—it is a broadly accepted presence.