Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Culture of Japan - Food of Japan

A more prominent part of the Japanese culture would be their food; well-known around the world are foods such as sushi, sashimi and ramen.
However, the true culture of Japanese food is much simpler, revolving around rice; sushi and sashimi are relatively expensive and are considered luxuries that are not enjoyed in a basic Japanese meal. In a basic Japanese home-cooked meal, there is rice, miso soup and up to three sides. This setup is called the “Ichi-Jiru San-Sai”, which means to have one soup and three sides for a meal. The sides are typically consisting of fish, meats or pickled vegetables.

A traditional meal of Ichi-Jiru San-Sai in a Japanese eatery
Source: http://www.photopassjapan.com/images/img%206656%20osaka%20eki%20shokuji%20washoku%20-%20osaka%20station%20japanese%20meal.jpg

Another food culture that is unique to Japan is the “Bento”, also known as packed lunches. Be it for when going to school or going to work, traditional wives and mothers would prepare a bento for their husbands and/or children.

From wives with love.                        "Work harder honey!"
Source:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPKRVja_LNXG2osIBkCbIu_f0TDnuKmnakrb2kdFQ0oa99Lu2PEw

Bentos have been commercialized in the years and is now commonplace as a meal-on-the-go that can be purchased at shops along the train stations or from convenience stores.

The presentation of food is also a focal point in the culture of Japanese food. The presentation of food often varies with the seasonality, with each season spotting its own colors and aesthetics. One of the more outstanding seasonality presentations would be spring, where inspirations from the cherry blossoms create dishes that are not only scrumptious but also a beautiful spectacle.

The spectacle to behold.
Source: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyNR5xb4JAsmrZXEGxFTtc48_O3MlLmg1oP-RNOp3PB9-N9AGCQw

Reference:
Japanese Food. Retrieved on 7th December 2010 from http://www.japanesefoodculture.org/food/

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