In article >, Questions
> wrote:

> Is it customary to eat the tails or not?

If we're talking ama-ebi or cooked shrimp for use in sushi, It it
customary? No.

Of course you can eat anything you like, including the napkin and
chopsticks. But it's not "customary".

--
"A Dictionary of Japanese Food, Ingredients & Culture" by Richard Hosking
(Tuttle, '97). All the hints one might need for exploring Japanese food.

"The Sake Handbook" by John Gaunter (Tuttle, '02). An excellent intro and
reference to sake.