And the correct answer is…
Chopsticks should not be held before picking up a bowl.
When eating a Japanese meal, you should first pick up the bowl or vessel you will eat from and then pick up your chopsticks.
First, take the bowl with both hands and place it on your non-dominant hand (for many, the left hand). Second, pick up the chopsticks with your dominant hand (for many, the right hand) and pinch them between the fingers of the hand holding the bowl. Lastly, return with your dominant hand, grasp the chopsticks properly, and release the chopsticks from the fingers of your non-dominant hand.
When changing bowls, first put down your chopsticks, then change bowls. Only after you have picked up the second bowl should you pick up your chopsticks again.
Images courtesy of Hitosara