Today more and more people are tasting and learning to eat sushi and sashimi.
The proper way to eat suchi is to lift it from the serving tray onto your own plate with a pair of chopsticks. Then suchi is lifted clear from your plate with chopsticks, delicately dipped in the soy sauce, to which usually a very spicy wasabi (heavy-duty, hotter-than-hell green horseradish!) has been previously added and stirred with your chopsticks, and then on to your mouth. If the sushi is small enough, you can take it in your mouth as one bite, if not, it is polite to take a bite, bring the rest back to your plate and then lift again for the next and final bite.
It is proper to eat sushi with your fingers, but not as much fun!
Sashimi, on the other hand, should never be eaten with your fingers. Always use chopsticks, or if you must, request a fork.