Chopsticks were invented by the Chinese over 5000 years ago. Confucius, a famous Chinese scholar who lived 2,500 years ago, is thought to have encouraged the use of chopsticks. He thought nothing that resembled a weapon should be brought to the table, like a knife, and chopsticks were a better option. They are used for both eating and cooking. Each culture has its own style of chopsticks.
Japanese chopsticks are usually pointed on the end, while those of the Chinese are blunt on the end. The Japanese eat a lot of fish and the pointed end helps to remove the bones of the fish while eating. Playing with chopsticks is bad manners. They aren’t to be used to play with food or stab food.
In Japan it is considered rude to rub chopsticks together that are broken, because it signifies that they were cheap. Other Asian countries aren’t so stringent about that rule. In Japan chopsticks aren’t supposed to be crossed on a table either, because that signifies death.