The disposable wooden chopsticks in Japan don’t splinter (they’re higher quality and cost more than the ones we have in the US).

That’s why you don’t need to rub to get rid of splinters.

Well that certainly depends on the establishment. I’ve picked out plenty of splinters here in Japan.

The disposable wooden chopsticks in Japan don’t splinter

If that was always true, there wouldn't be a word for it.

I've been given some pretty gnarly chopsticks at roadside places outside the main metropolitan areas.