I know the meaning behind saying, "Itadakimasu." But I want to know, does the person who prepare the meal usually join in to say, "itadakimasu" (as thanks for having food in general) or do they not say it because they would be the ones receiving thanks from everyone for providing it?
For some reason I always thought it was kind of like a prayer, so that they were saying it to whatever god of the religion they followed.
To make it short, yes they theoretically also say it. To make it long „itadakimasu“ means not only thank you for the cook but also for those people who produced the recourses, farmers and the like and also to the gods for blessing them with the opportunity to eat.
yes they do, cause itadakimasu is not just thanks for the one who cooked or prepared it, but also thanks to the people who make it possible to be prepared, the nature who help the farmers, sea for fishermans, gods, well likes of those,
As someone else said yes they would say it as it's not directed at said cook. Wife and son say it even though the wife cooked it same with the inlays when I visit they all say it again motherin law is the cook.