The Essence of Japanese Cuisine: An Essay on Food and Culture

by Michael Ashkenazi, Jeanne Jacob, Michael Ashkenazi Michael Ashkenazi

Overview

The past few years have shown a growing interest in cooking and food, as a result of international food issues such as BSE, world trade and mass foreign travel, and at the same time there has been growing interest in Japanese Studies since the 1970s. This volume brings together the two interests of Japan and food, examining both from a number of perspectives. The book reflects on the social and cultural side of Japanese food, and at the same time reflects also on the ways in which Japanese culture has been affected by food, a basic human institution. Providing the reader with the historical and social bases to understand how Japanese cuisine has been and is being shaped, this book assumes minimal familiarity with Japanese society, but instead explores the country through the topic of its cuisine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415759939
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/23/2014
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Ashkenazi teaches sociology and anthropology, and is the author of numerous books and articles on Japan.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Redefining Japanese Food; Chapter 2 A Frame work for Discussion; Chapter 3 Japanese Food in its Background; Chapter 4 Food Events and Their Meaning; Chapter 5 Food Preparation Styles; Chapter 6 Food Loci; Chapter 7 Aesthetics in the World of Japanese Food; Chapter 8 Learning the Cultural Rules; Chapter 9 The Art of Dining; Chapter 10 Japan's Food Culture;

Editorial Reviews

'An extensive and interesting study of a subject on which hitherto there has been very little written in English.' - Petits Propos Culinaires

From the Publisher

Having written elsewhere about Japanese culture, Ashkenazi and Jacob explore the Japanese meal and the historical, social, and economic principles that underpin the food culture. They draw on fieldwork, surveys, shop advertisements, and classical writings and paintings to describe such details as menu arrangement, cooking techniques, course selection, and entertainment styles. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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