The Essence of Japanese Cuisine

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The term “culture” has a very dynamic definition, referring to different qualities of a society, forms or stages in a society and behavior and beliefs that a certain group has. For the Japanese people, culture is very dynamic in forms of expression, whether it is arts, politics or even the food. Japanese cuisine is very authentic in terms of the type of food served and the manner of which it is served in. Depending on the type of food and how it is served can alter the meaning of the meal. While food for other cultures is used only as a form of sustenance, in Japan food is a way of expression and that the Japanese people have long thrived by. Spirituality is a long found driving force of Japan and seems to find a way into everything, including cuisine. As taught in lecture, the Japanese term “Wa” refers to balance, harmony and peace. I am fortunate enough to have a friend that is from the Okinawa area of Japan and he told me that “Wa” is highly reflected in Japanese cuisine. He spoke of how the Japanese never try to hide the natural flavor of anything in the dish because each separate ingredient must come together harmoniously to create the dish. He went on to say that besides one dish being in harmony with its ingredients, all of the dishes in a meal must come together in harmony to create the meal. Not only does the meal need to come together harmoniously, but the surroundings and the people dining need to survive harmoniously with the meal. “Wa” is as old as Japan is itself, and for the Japanese cuisine to be so closely intertwined with the ideas of Wa, makes it a staple in the culture of Japan. Japanese tea ceremony is another convention of Japanese culture that was, according to lecture, primarily influenced by Zen Buddhism. Ever since Buddhism’s introduction to Japan in the late 12th Century, it has had a great effect on the shaping of Japan as a nation.

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