Yamashita - The Origins of Japanese Food (Tue)

[Anonymous]

I think you guys will appreciate this video on the origins of Ramen. Pretty cool anime video about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNbb9qixsRQ

[Anonymous]

A couple weeks ago I caught a glimpse of Andrew Zimmern visiting a ramen factory. After hearing about the history of ramen and its significance, its safe to assume that the fascination and love of ramen continues. According to the article, Sun Factory in New Jersey, provides high quality ramen to top restaurants in both the U.S and Europe. Here is an article addressing this particular espisode of Bizarre Foods America. (http://www.northjersey.com/food-and-dining-news/bizarre-new-jersey-from-exotic-to-just-weird-1.588587)

I would use this info in the context of globalization. We see the first evidence of globalization when corn, potatoes and sugarcane spread across the world. Within our modern time frame we have various food products, like ramen, that have mass appeal. Students can map the spread of food items, consider the scope and reach, and also consider their impacts.
edited by gmora on 8/1/2016

[Anonymous]

• As I heard Professor Yamashita’s lecture on Japanese food I had two thoughts. First, I wished I had heard this lecture before I visited Japan this summer, and second, the tradition and spoke about resonated with a lot of my understandings of what I saw in Japan. While I was in Japan, I had the opportunity to sample a lot of Japanese cuisine, and as an open-minded diner, I was very excited to try what Japan has to offer. Part of being introduced to new cuisine however, was that from time to time, I had no idea what I was eating. What was nice about hearing this lecture was that a lot of what I ate was explained and I had the opportunity to appreciate a lot of what was offered to me despite the fact that I had already experienced. While I was in Japan, I also noticed that Japan tends to operate in a very orderly manner and they tend to have a lot of rituals and specific ways to doing things. In hearing professor Yamashita’s lecture, this was very evident in the way food trays are organized and in they way meals are consumed. Coming from an American perspective, I also noticed that Japanese food tends to be much healthier than American food, and this was particularly interesting within the context of instant noodles. My students are frequent consumers of instant noodles, however, the stigma attached to this food is that it’s unhealthy. I am curious to know of instant noodles are seen in the same light in Asia.

edited by nramon on 8/3/2016

[Anonymous]

Some time ago NPR ran a story on dumplings and reported that many cultures around the world have a variation of this type of food. According to the story, China has at least 300 varieties of dumpling. The fact that it can be found in so many variations and varieties around the world shows the universality of this particular food. I believe ramen noodles can be in the same category as dumplings. Many cultures have some varation of the noodle and for many people it feels like a comfort food reminding them of their childhood.

Here is the link to the story: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/08/23/214869226/our-quest-to-build-a-great-global-dumpling-list

[clay dube]

Some may have been interested in Japanese fine-tuning of "American" products and processes. Check out this article:
Tom Downey, Smithsonian Magazine, April 2014
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-japan-copied-american-culture-and-made-it-better-180950189/?no-ist

the best in bourbon, burgers, and denim....

[clay dube]

Our National Consortium for Teaching about Asia colleagues have produced a podcast series introducing Japanese and other Asian customs and trends. Many are outstanding. This might be a good site for someone to review. William Tsutsui did most of the Japanese ones. There are more than 300 of these one minute pieces. Perhaps they could launch discussions?

https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/handle/1808/12861

And - a piece from NPR on how Japan came to love jazz: http://www.npr.org/sections/ablogsupreme/2014/04/30/308275726/how-japan-came-to-love-jazz

There is a virtually impossible to find documentary that we featured years ago at our summer institute: Tokyo Blues. Craig McTurk made the film. It was narrated by KJazz super DJ the late Chuck Niles. There is one part focusing on a superstar kid harmonica player. He'll have you dancing. http://www.worldcat.org/title/tokyo-blues-jazz-blues-in-japan/oclc/797005891

http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.jots.200023786/default.html

Craig now teaches in Singapore: http://www.np.edu.sg/fms/aboutus/staff/Pages/mcb.aspx

[Anonymous]

I was surprised to find that in Japanese culture mentioning of foods or scenes of eating in literature were considered vulgar and were extremely rare. It was interesting that describing drinking parties were perfectly fine. I have learned that Heian-era cuisine was a continuation of Nara-period culinary customs, and they are still recognizable as the basic tenets of Japanese cuisine today. I also have learned that the term for "chef" was hochonin or "knife welder" that usually prepared raw fish in front of guests who could enjoy his skills. It is interesting to learn that the meats (fish) has to be served separately from all sauces and flavorings.

[Anonymous]

Very interesting presentation and leaves much "food for thought" pun intended of course Great opportunities for children here with comparative studies in social sciences with food. Some ideas I have for my fourth and fifth grade classes could involve both the use of Tea vs. Coffee in a colonial trade context. The lucrative trade in East India Tea taken over by the British monopoly from the Dutch could lead to some interesting learning. Students will instinctively research how tea is grown and why it was so lucrative. Many ideas with ramen to show how new foods are developed and how they can travel internationally today. This could lead to some interesting conversations pertaining to compare and contrast the expansion of ramen today with tea in the 18th century.

[Anonymous]

Excellent "food for thought" from Mr. Yamashita's presentation. Many lesson ideas for my fourth and fifth grade students. Food is always a great way to hook children into academic study and exploration. It would be interesting for students to learn about the 18th century tea trade taken over by the British from the Dutch in the 18th century and then to compare and contrast this with the current development and global expansion of ramen. Interesting immigrant thread in the Taiwanese birth of such an influential personality on modern living in Japan.

[Anonymous]

So instead of post during the presentations on the first few days, I was listening carefully to the presentations and, at least for this one, getting very hungry. I've taken the new knowledge give us here and mixed it into my own culinary fun. With the new Ramen craze that's sprung up over the last year or so, I am now ready to move past the salty, starchy stuff from college years to some new ideas & tastes. One of the best surprises to me was the customs and traditions regarding the depiction of dining in film & television as well as how formal dining habits are.

[Anonymous]

This reading gave me some great ideas on some activities to do with a club that my students and I are thinking about starting this year to develop their appreciation and knowledge of the various cultures around Alhambra. Many of my students feel like they are living in a foreign country at times, which can be both good and bad. Good in that they are being exposed to other ways of living, but bad because of the sense of the defensiveness that comes about from the feeling of alienation. They never go into the restaurants or stores (unless it's a Korean own liquor store) and they feel cut off the an entire segment of their own community. I want to link to what they already experience (i.e. cup noodles) as a spring board into a deeper transformative cultural experience.

[Anonymous]

It was so interesting to hear professor Yamashita's lecture on the origins of Japanese food. I have always been fascinated by all the rituals at the table. It reminded me when I used to go visit my grandparents' house. we used to dress up for dinner and it was served in a very orderly manner. All courses were served on individual plates the only difference was that you got one plate at a time.

[Anonymous]

The history of the origins of the Ramen Noodles was very educational. I was surprised to find out that a Taiwanese was responsible for this invention that has broken all borders from Japan to the rest of the world, the masses LOVE LOVE LOVE instant Ramen noodles.

[Anonymous]

I also love eating instant ramen noodles but I stopped eating them because of the very little nutritional value and high sodium. As I was listening to the lecture, I kept thinking to myself. This will make a very good lesson on nutrition. Let's make the instant ramen noodles a healthier meal. Ask students to come up with a good balance meal using instant ramen noodles.

[Anonymous]

If there was a golden key to entice students with history class, it would be a 'food' talk. I am not sure whether I can hand out the recipes to students but I can vision myself using pictures from PF. Yamashita's presentation to hook students. Especially my 7th graders love Samurai stuff so I can use this topic as a hook.

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