Japanese Food

Most people see Japanese food as something strange and disgusting which is far from the truth. Japanese food is very simple yet filling and always comes with a nice presentation. The food in Japan is rather inexpensive for the amount you get. Sometimes this is not always the case and you pay high price for just a bowl of something. I found that most of the time I ate the food was rather cheap and I always got lots of it. The food was always presented in a decorative way with either a garnish on top or an interesting side dish to accentuate the main dish. In fact ramen was always very cheap and came with great presentation. I don't think I will be able to eat top ramen in the states ever again. We also went to a conveyor belt sushi which consisted of a bar with cups and small containers of tea lining the bar area with a chef in the middle and producing the sushi. Once seated you just grabbed what you wanted and the prices were set according to the plate design or color. Not only is there authentic asian cuisine there is also McDonalds, Subway, KFC, and even Burger King. I sampled each of these and they all had their own Japanese menu items to cater to the local population, and each of these items was delicious. There is also something known as the tower cheese burger which has 1o patties with cheese on top of each. I did try this incredibly larger burger, and let's just say it was very greasy and a few hours later my stomach was turning in agitation from it. Never the less I am in deep love with Japanese food and could never tire of the delicious taste, aroma, and visually appearance of every dish there is to order. To get a guide to Japanese cuisine and table manners go to http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e620.html

Kawaii Food Fuels The Japanese

American culture uses pseudo Asian meditations and therapy to relax from the stress of who will become the next American Idol. Japan takes a break from the excessive work weeks through Hello Kitty style kawaii culture. Kawaii culture, which is explained in the Graphic Japan ready by Sharon Kinsella as a celebration of all that is "sweet, adorable, innocent, pure, simple, genuine, gentle, vulnerable, weak, and inexperienced in social behavior and physical appearance." To simply put it, its cute things.

At Nishiki market, the kawaii culture can be experienced through the way food is presented. Everything from candy, to rice crackers, to even mochi are transformed from their normal state to flowers, leaves and fruits. The walls of kawaii candy seem to be just as important to the Japanese experience as the tumpura stand next door.The reason for kawaii in food seems a little strange to an American like myself, but it is said that kawaii is used not because it is simply super adorable, but it is a connection to childhood that in a culture where adults are expected to work long hours in intense company groups.

The kawaii food in the specialty shops also had a lot of seasonality, or mono no aware. The rice crackers have pictures of delicate flowers and fish. The candies are shaped into seasonal flowers and fruits in pastel shades. The idea that there are certain things for every season, such as spring, is something that is important to thte culture thing. It was really interesting to see that even something that is really new like kawaii culture, especially when you think about how old the Japanese culture ranges back, has routes in something so importantly Japanese.

If you go to Nishiki market, or any sort of food store in Japan, you really should keep an eye out for the different types of kawaii food and candy you are bound to see.