Japanese Food Essay

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Climate vs. Food Production The climate does not directly affect Japanese cuisine, but the geography does. Japan is the top of the underwater mountain chain, so this makes Japan very hard to farm on. Only about 20% of Japan is "farmable" so this forces Japanese to live by the sea, which encourages fishing and trade. Japan has a major fishing industry and since fish are directly related to the climate and the ocean temperatures, a change in climate can drastically affect japans' food. These changes could make fish less abundant or different in size Staple Foods Soy sauce Sake (A Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice) Mirin (a form of Japanese rice wine, less alcoholic than sake. Japanese rice wine vinegar Miso paste (Paste to make Japanese Miso Soup.) Kombu (Edible kelp used in East Asian cuisine.) Katsuobushi (a Japanese fermented food; cooked bonito fish) Japanese rice White sesame seeds Wasabi Nori (An edible seaweed, eaten either fresh or dried in sheets) Japanese Daily Food Patterns Breakfast might consist of miso soup, gohan (rice), nori (dried seaweed), pickles, and green tea. Lunch is usually simple and consists of noodles. Dinner might consist of rice, a main dish of fish or meat, a side dish of vegetables, miso soup, and pickled vegetables. Traditional Japanese meals are often eaten on a tatami around a low table. Eating and Drinking Customs Meals prepared in traditional Japanese style are served on low tables set up on the floor. People sit on the floor and don't start eating until the oldest male or someone says lets eat and everybody says “itaeakimas.” When offering a plate, dish, glass or bottle to someone who is older than you, you show respect by using two hands to present the object. Japanese generally don't use napkins. At restaurants, customers are served hot towels, which sometimes can be used like a napkin. At

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