1 Háskóli Íslands Hugvísindasvið B.A í Japönsku máli og menningu What is the importance and role of food in modern Japanese society? Why is Japanese food classified as world heritag and what makes Japanese food stand apart from the food culture of other countries? Ritgerð til BA / MA-prófs í Japönsku máli og menningu César Vladimir Rodríguez Cedillo Kt: 040892-5089 Leiðbeinandi: Gunnella Þórgeirsdóttir May 20017
28
Embed
What is the importance and role of food in modern Japanese ...°.pdf · Japanese culture and society goes far beyond being only food. 6 The Roots of Japanese Food Culture It is important
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
Háskóli Íslands
Hugvísindasvið
B.A í Japönsku máli og menningu
What is the importance and role of food in
modern Japanese society?
Why is Japanese food classified as world heritag and what makes
Japanese food stand apart from the food culture of other countries?
Ritgerð til BA / MA-prófs í Japönsku máli og menningu
César Vladimir Rodríguez Cedillo
Kt: 040892-5089
Leiðbeinandi: Gunnella Þórgeirsdóttir
May 20017
2
Abstract.
In Japanese society, a meal goes beyond the food and eating it. It is known that
Japanese food was influenced by China and Korea due to the geographical proximity.
Traditional food is an important aspect of the culture and it is considered a world
heritage. Thus, a traditional meal is not only aiming for the taste, but also aiming to
protect the nature and transmit knowledge to future generations. The climate in
Japan varies considerably, which allowed each city to develop their own traditional
dishes representing the area. This has encouraged culinary tourism, where people
travel throughout Japan to experience different flavours. Culinary tourism benefited
Japanese culture and economy by supporting local villages and smaller communities.
A convenient way to experience dishes from different regions, is by buying ekiben
(lunch boxes sold at the train stations) while riding the train from one city to another.
Seasonal food is important for society, because the diet is based on each season of
the year. To stay healthy throughout the year, Japanese children learn important
values and skills such as cooperation, teamwork and responsibility in their school
lunches during elementary school. Bento boxes (lunch boxes) influenced, to some
extent, the personality of Japanese children either by helping them to socialize easier
with their classmates or excluded them out of a group. A meal in Japan is very
important to society, because there is more to just eating the food; there are several
rules and etiquettes to follow. A meal in Japanese society goes beyond food,
because through a meal people can socialize, build stronger bonds, cooperate, work
in teams and help society to develop. It is also a way to thank gods in rituals.
Traditional food in modern society is very important to keep the culture. Without these
traditions and all the varieties of foods available in Japan, the Japanese culture
2004). Nonetheless the most recent incident of food posing was in 2014 where 900
students from 14 elementary schools experienced massive food poisoning. The
reason is still unclear but is believed it was due to the school lunch. (Mann.2014).
The school Lunch Act promoted diet and nutrition in accordance with the needs of
local communities and children focusing on keeping high hygiene standards. In 2011
over 3,853 nutritionist along with dentist, were assigned to schools all over the
country to provided extensive information and support to families about nutrition (This
researched involved around10 million schoolchildren and 32,400 schools). This had a
positive impact in term of health and dietary habits among children. The law can be
considered a success and great benefit to the Japanese society (Tanaka&Miyoshi,
2012).
School lunches can be consider a way for children to learn important skills that they
will use through their entire life. Children learn from a young age how to work in team
and how to cooperate.
21
Festival Culture
Festivals in Japan are so popular that it is commonly said that you will always find
festivals at any given time somewhere in Japan. Some festivals are well known all
around Japan however there are also a number of local festivals only known in
specific regions in Japan. Japanese festivals are aimed at celebrating the gods, the
seasons or a specific historical event. Japanese festivals are performed by many
volunteers therefore festivals encourage people to work together and cooperate.
Japanese festivals are also known as a good excuse for family and friends to get
together in order to eat, drink and chat (Tomomi, 2016).
Hanabi which literally means fire flowers, is a good example of such a festival.
During summer, fireworks have the same appeal as cherry blossoms in the spring.
Fireworks are considered to have the same beauty that Japanese see in things that
bloom and fade away in a flash. During the summer time, hundreds of fireworks
festivals take place across Japan and thousands of spectators attend the events, to
observe the fleeting views, but also to eat with the family, friends or co-workers
(Kamiya, 2010). Another popular is hanami which means flower viewing. It has been
celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese
culture. Cherry blossom viewing celebrates the seasonal spectacle of blooming that
takes only a couple of days during spring time. Cherry blossom viewing is easy.
Simply enjoy the intensity of the many blossoming trees by looking at a group of trees.
The purpose of hanami is not only to observe the trees but also to gather with friends
and to enjoy picnics in the park. These picnics is well appreciated by Japanese which
consider this event one of the events that most Japanese wait for all year long in
order to gather with family and friends in order to eat and drink while enjoying the
view of the trees (Tsuchido, 2014). Festivals in Japan are a way people have in order
to thank nature, the gods or specific events however most festivals require a lot of
people participating in lengthy preparations and rehearsals therefore before, during
or after the festivals people will gather to enjoy meals together. This idea encourages
people to socialize and build stronger bonds with the society around them (Tomomi,
2016).
22
Conclusion
To summarize, Japanese food is not only considered a meal but an important aspect
of culture and modern society, it is important to review some key points.
During prehistoric times, food and cooking was a significant evidence for humans to
survive and develop into a more complex society. During prehistoric times migration,
mainly from Korea and China, benefited Japan to acquire new dishes and ingredients
that had an influence in traditional Japanese food. Later food was not only a meal to
be meant to be consumed, but also to get a source of energy. It was also a way for
people to thank gods or for rituals. It came to a point that food was a way for people
to identify themselves with their culture and their roots. This had a positive influence
in society that encouraged each generation to transmit to future generations certain
traditions, knowledge and respect towards food and nature. Hence this helped
Japanese food to be considered an essential component of their culture, therefore it
must be protected as a world heritage. Dishes in Japan vary a lot from region to
region. Every city in Japan encourages to have their own traditional food as a way of
recognition. Each traditional dish reassure that ingredients must be local and must
represent their origin and in some cases like ekiben, provide information or a
representation of local folklore. That way each meal benefits the consumption of
national products, promotes culinary tourism, hence local economy is benefited from
it.
Seasonal food is an important aspect in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese diet is
basically based on the seasons. The purpose to have the diet based on seasonal
food, is important to staying healthy, during each season of the year, and to
encourage people to socialize. For example, summer in Japan is hot and humid, thus
it is common to suffer fatigue, digestive problems and feel lethargic. During summer
Japanese people highly recommend eating summer seasonal food such as hiyajiru
(cold miso soup poured over rice), tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, etc., to reduce
summer fatigue. In the winter season, temperatures drop below zero, thus it is highly
recommended staying warm by consuming hot pot dishes that allow the body to
23
warm up. It also encourages people to socialize, because hot pot dishes are known
to be consumed by a group of people. During spring time, it is common to gather
together to eat while enjoying the view of the cherry blossom trees. Spring time
highlights the consumption of bamboo shoots and strawberries; while in autumn it is
a great example to show that traditional Japanese cuisine respects the nature and
environment by eating pacific saury fish. This is because they are abundant and at
their peak maturity allowing them to grow and reproduce during the rest of year.
Japanese food influences the personality of the Japanese from a very young age.
Japanese children are taught certain skills in their school lunchbreaks. The school
lunch is not only aim to eat but to learn about nutrition, recycling, responsibilities, how
to cooperate, work in teams and food production. School lunches also promote the
consumption of local food; hence self-sufficiency is promoted in Japan. In addition,
bento boxes (lunch boxes) play a key role in Japanese children’s personalities. The
lunch boxes were created for religious purposes, later become an attractive way for
children to eat their meal. However, bento boxes are now a crucial aspect for children
to socialize, having a great character on the lunch box during lunch allows the
children to gain a status among their friends. Having an attractive lunch box helps
children to socialize easier, thus having a positive influence in their self-esteem.
However, on the other hand not having an attractive character lunch box could lead
to bullying, which might decrease their self-esteem and make them have a difficult
time to socialize. This can lead to have permanent consequences in their future.
In order to have a pleasant meal with co-workers and have a better status in their life,
it is important to be familiar with the etiquette of Japanese dining and know how to
properly handle the dishes, the chopsticks and how to eat certain meals. Festivals
and food have a strong connection that also play an important role in Japanese
society. During festivals people gather to meet one another and on most festivals
food is an important aspect either to gather to eat before the festival or afterwards.
For example, during Hanami festival the main purpose is to reunite with family or
friends, eat and drink together while enjoying the view of cherry blossom tress.
During summer Hanabi is a special event where the idea is basically the same as the
Hanami festival, but instead of enjoying the view of the tress, people gather to eat
together to enjoy the fireworks.
24
Food in Japan is not only a meal to be meant to be eaten, it is also aimed to help
society to develop. A meal allows people to have a great time with friends and their
family. A meal allowed people to socialize easier and to meet new people that might
have an influence later in their lives. A great meal can also help build stronger
connections with loved ones. It is a way for people to use food in rituals and to thank
gods or to wish for something. Traditional Japanese food is very important in
Japanese culture and without all these different traditions of the food, and the
cooking, the Japanese culture would not be the same.
25
Bibliography
Ashkenazi, M., & Jeanne, J. ( 2000). The essence of Japanese cuisine: an essay on food and culture. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Burbank, J. (2013). Tokyo (Eyewitness travel). London: Darling Kindersley.
Gonzalez, L. (2012, March 1). Spring in Japan: Traveling, clothing and weather in March-May. Matcha Japan Travel Magazine. Retrieved 1st of March 2017 from https://matcha-jp.com/en/1641
Itoh, M. (2012, July 20.) Shaved ice: the traditional antidote to summer swelter. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/07/27/food/shaved-ice-the-traditional-antidote-to-summer-swelter/ --(2013, February 22). Ready for spring’s fresh bounty. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/04/15/food/springtime-for-bamboo/ --(2014, April 15). Springtime for bamboo. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/02/22/food/ready-for-springs-fresh-bounty/ --(2016, February 16). ‘Amazake’: The wintertime sake that isn’t what it seems. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/02/19/food/amazake-wintertime-sake-isnt-seems/ --(2017, January 20). ‘Oden’: Japan’s traditional winter fast food. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2017/01/20/food/japans-traditional-winter-fast-food/
Kamiya, Setsuko (2010, July 14). Summer: the season of ‘fire flowers’. The Japan Times. Retrieved from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/07/14/reference/summer-the-season-of-fire-flowers/
Hull, A. (2015. September 22). Koyo in Japan: Changing Colors of Autumn Foliage. TRIPals.Retrieved from: http://trip.mistersuite.com/koyo-in-japan-changing-colors-of-autumn-foliage/
Kinsiki, M. (2010).”How to Eat the Ten Thousand Things’’ Table manners in the edo period. Japanese Foodways, Past and Present. In Eric C Rath - Assmann Stephanie.USA:University of Illinois
Konishi, K. (1990). Entertaining with a Japanese flavor. Tokyo; New York: Kodansha International.
Laurajane, S., & Natsuko, A. (2009).Intangible Heritage. New York: Routledge
Lynn, M. (2013, December 21). 10 little-known rules for eating Japanese food. Japan Today. Retrieved from:
Maan, P. (2014, January 17). Over 900 elementary school students affected by food poisoning outbreak, possible norovirus. Japan Daily Press. Retrieved from http://japandailypress.com/over-900-elementary-school-students-affected-by-food-poisoning-outbreak-possible-norovirus-1742637/
Matsui, S., Takahashi, O., Kobayashi, I. (2004,October). Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak associated with a school-lunch dessert: Cross-contamination and a long incubation period, Japan, 2001; Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak; T. Matsui and others. Epidemiology and Infection, 132(5), 873-9.
Minjie, Q. (2007). Intangible Culture : Passing on the tradition. (Stories from China). Beijing: Foreign languages press.
Myriam, R. (2004).Kashering the Melting pot:Oreos,Sushi Restaurants,’’Kosher Treif’’, and the Observant American Jew. In Lucy M, Long. Culinary Tourism. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky
Morelli, V. (2012, August 02.) Summer in Japan: A survival guide. Japan Today. Retrieved from: https://www.japantoday.com/category/opinions/view/summer-in-japan-a-survival-guide
Nagashima, Y. (2014, January). UNESCO“Japanese Food : Intangible Cultural Heritage”. Retrieved from http://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2014/2/5/unesco-washoku/
Nihon Kotsu Kosha. (1999). Eating in Japan: Illustrated = Inshoku hen. (14th ed., Eibun Nihon etoki jiten ; 3). Tokyo: Japan Travel Bureau
Omae, K., & Tachibana, Y. (1988). The Book of Sushi.Tokyo: Kodansha International. Onabe, Tomoko (2010). Bento. In Eric C Rath – Assmann, Stephanie.USA:University of Illinois
Oogane, T., Hirata, A., Funatogawa, K., Kobayashi, K., Sato, T., & Kimura, H. (2008). Food poisoning outbreak caused by norovirus GII/4 in school lunch, Tochigi prefecture, Japan. Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, 61(5), 423-4. Retrieved from: http://www0.nih.go.jp/JJID/61/423.pdf
Otake, T. (2007, July 07.) How to survive summer fatigue. The Japan Times. Retrieved from:http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2007/07/17/lifestyle/how-to-survive-summer-fatigue/
Phro, P. (2013, September 12). 12 of the best places in Kyoto to enjoy autumn colors. Japan Today. Retrieved from: https://www.japantoday.com/category/travel/view/12-of-the-best-places-in-kyoto-to-enjoy-autumn-colors
Richie, D. (1985).A taste of Japan: food fact and fable: what the people eat: customs and etiquette. Tokyo;New York:Kodansha International
27
Rogers, K. (2015, January 14,). A brief history of the evolution of Japanese school lunches. Japan Today. Retrieved from: https://www.Japantoday.com/category/food/view/a-brief-history-of-the-evolution-of-Japanese-school-lunches
Salyers, C. (2008). Face food: the visual creativity of Japanese bento boxes. New York: Mark Batty Publisher
Sosnoski, D., & Narumi, Y. (1996). Introduction to Japanese Culture. Tokyo: Tuttle.
Tanaka, N., & Miyoshi, M. (2012 March). School lunch program for health promotion among children in Japan. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 21(1), 155-8.
Tannahill, R. (2002). Food in History.London:Review.
Tomomi, S. (2016, October 12). Japan's Summer Festivals - How To Enjoy The Famous Matsuri. MATCHA: Japan Travel Magazine. Retrieved from: https://matcha-jp.com/en/2661
Theodore, G. (1987). Ekiben. Discover Japan. Tokyo; New York: Kodansha International.
Tsuji, S., & Sutherland, M. (1980). Japanese Cooking: a simple art. Tokyo; New York: Kodansha International Ltd.
Tsuchido, K. (2014, March 29). Mind Your Manners: Proper Hanami Etiquette. MATCHA: Japan Travel Magazine. Retrieved from: https://matcha-jp.com/en/135
Yamada, K. (2014, April 5). 6 Sakura Flavored Snacks Available At Convenience Stores. Matcha Japan Travel Magazine. Retrieved from https://matcha-jp.com/en/124
Wilson, S. (2016. October 26). Top 5 Japanese autumn foods Japan Today. Retrieved from: https://www.japantoday.com/category/food/view/top-5-japanese-autumn-foods
Japanese cuisine submitted for UNESCO 'intangible cultural heritage' status. (2013, October 24) Retrieved 24th of December 2016 from https://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japanese-cuisine-submitted-for-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-status (“Japanese cuisine”, 2013)