History of Japanese Cuisine
The biggest influence on Japanese cuisine by far has been the
introduction of rice into Japanese culture. Around 2000 B.C., China and
the Korean Peninsula introduced rice to Japan. This happened during the
Jomon period, which stretched from 14 000 B.C to 300 B.C. However, during this
time, rice was not a staple in the diets of Japanese people. Even though it was
periodically consumed, it was not a major part of Japanese cuisine. Also, there
were no full-time rice farmers during that time. Japanese people were mostly
hunters, gatherers, and fishers. Unlike the Middle East and other Asian
countries at that time, Japanese civilians did not feel much pressure to become
full-time farmers.
However, nearing the end of the Jomon period, Japanese society changed from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle. At about 300 B.C. widespread rice cultivation in Japan began. Because of the rice introduced to Japan by China through the Korean Peninsula, rice became a staple. Quickly, rice became a major part of Japanese worldview. It became Japan’s most important crop. At one time, it was even used as currency. The Japanese word for cooked rice is “gohan”, which translates to “meal”. The fact that rice means “meal” in Japanese shows just how important this crop turned out to be. Also, the Japanese word for breakfast is “asagohan”, which translates to “morning rice”. Rice was enjoyed by all classes. Whether it is the peasants or the noblemen, everybody ate rice.
Approximately 500 years after the change to an agricultural lifestyle, China and the Korean Peninsula introduced Chinese culture into Japanese society. This was during the Kofun Period which lasted from 250 B.C to 500 B.C. The religious practice of Buddhism became important in Japanese society. In the 6th century, nearing the end of the Kofun Period, Japan sought to fully imitate Chinese culture during the Tang Dynasty. Therefore in 675 AD, Emperor Temmu issued a decree on the prohibition of eating various animals such as horses, dogs, monkeys, cattle, and chickens during the 4th-9th month of each year. This law was punishable by death. However, Temmu did not ban deer or wild boar since they were essential in maintaining a Japanese diet.
Around this time, another essential crop was brought into Japan through foreign influences. This crop was soybeans. In the 6th century, soybeans were introduced in Japan. Since Japanese culture has shifted towards a vegetarian diet due to their embracing of Buddhism, soybeans saw mass popularity in Japanese society
During the time in which soybeans were introduced, a new food was invented by the Japanese. This food was sushi. The reason why sushi was invented was to preserve fish. At that time, they did not have refrigerators, and therefore fish didn’t take long to spoil. The practice of fermenting fish by using rice and salt helped preserve it. However, over the next couple hundred years, people started eating the rice with the fish instead of throwing the rice out. Since the result was delicious, Japanese people began eating sushi. In fact, as early as the 7th century, there were three sushi restaurants in Edo, the capital of Japan.
In an effort to further imitate Chinese culture, the 8th century saw many laws that prohibited the eating of animals. These laws were accepted by Shinto. Shinto is the indigenous religion of the Japanese. The accepting of these laws by the Shinto made these taboos even more important in Japanese society.
Another of the many products that Japan had received from China was chopsticks. Originally, they were only used by the nobility at banquets. However, in the 9th and 10th century, chopstick use became widespread. Commoners and peasants began regularly using them. People in Japan abandoned the use of a spoon for dining and used chopsticks instead.
In the 9th century, the Chinese Tang Dynasty began declining. Japan cuisine quickly became more individual and unique. People started eating meat more often. However, there were still some Buddhists that refused meat. Some of the new dishes that gained popularity during this time were:
In the 16th century, tempura was introduced to the Japanese by sailing Portuguese. The Japanese traded with the Portuguese. In addition to trade, the Portuguese tried to unsuccessfully convert the Japanese to Catholicism. Like many other Japanese foods, it wasn’t invented in Japan. Instead it was brought it through the sharing and trading of worldviews and cultures.
From the 9th to 18th century, Japan was isolated from the whole world. Except for the introduction of tempura, no culture clashes occurred during this time. Because of this isolation, Japan has developed a very unique and different culture that is not seen anywhere in the world today. This is mainly due to the fact that Japan is an island isolated from the mainland of society.
Today, Japanese cuisine directly affects almost everybody in the world. Due to the fact that we are a “global village”, the spreading of world views and ideas has never been easier. Japanese cuisine exists in nearly every country. Sushi is by far the most popular Japanese food in many countries outside of Japan. With the spreading of these ideas, many societies have put own unique twists of the Japanese foods of their choice. For example, cucumber and yam sushi did not exist in Japan. Although today, countries all around the world (including Japan) have this type of sushi. This history of Japanese cuisine is different from any other countries’ cuisine. Much of the food was in fact brought in from other countries. Japanese cuisine takes a certain passion and love to maintain.
However, nearing the end of the Jomon period, Japanese society changed from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle. At about 300 B.C. widespread rice cultivation in Japan began. Because of the rice introduced to Japan by China through the Korean Peninsula, rice became a staple. Quickly, rice became a major part of Japanese worldview. It became Japan’s most important crop. At one time, it was even used as currency. The Japanese word for cooked rice is “gohan”, which translates to “meal”. The fact that rice means “meal” in Japanese shows just how important this crop turned out to be. Also, the Japanese word for breakfast is “asagohan”, which translates to “morning rice”. Rice was enjoyed by all classes. Whether it is the peasants or the noblemen, everybody ate rice.
Approximately 500 years after the change to an agricultural lifestyle, China and the Korean Peninsula introduced Chinese culture into Japanese society. This was during the Kofun Period which lasted from 250 B.C to 500 B.C. The religious practice of Buddhism became important in Japanese society. In the 6th century, nearing the end of the Kofun Period, Japan sought to fully imitate Chinese culture during the Tang Dynasty. Therefore in 675 AD, Emperor Temmu issued a decree on the prohibition of eating various animals such as horses, dogs, monkeys, cattle, and chickens during the 4th-9th month of each year. This law was punishable by death. However, Temmu did not ban deer or wild boar since they were essential in maintaining a Japanese diet.
Around this time, another essential crop was brought into Japan through foreign influences. This crop was soybeans. In the 6th century, soybeans were introduced in Japan. Since Japanese culture has shifted towards a vegetarian diet due to their embracing of Buddhism, soybeans saw mass popularity in Japanese society
During the time in which soybeans were introduced, a new food was invented by the Japanese. This food was sushi. The reason why sushi was invented was to preserve fish. At that time, they did not have refrigerators, and therefore fish didn’t take long to spoil. The practice of fermenting fish by using rice and salt helped preserve it. However, over the next couple hundred years, people started eating the rice with the fish instead of throwing the rice out. Since the result was delicious, Japanese people began eating sushi. In fact, as early as the 7th century, there were three sushi restaurants in Edo, the capital of Japan.
In an effort to further imitate Chinese culture, the 8th century saw many laws that prohibited the eating of animals. These laws were accepted by Shinto. Shinto is the indigenous religion of the Japanese. The accepting of these laws by the Shinto made these taboos even more important in Japanese society.
Another of the many products that Japan had received from China was chopsticks. Originally, they were only used by the nobility at banquets. However, in the 9th and 10th century, chopstick use became widespread. Commoners and peasants began regularly using them. People in Japan abandoned the use of a spoon for dining and used chopsticks instead.
In the 9th century, the Chinese Tang Dynasty began declining. Japan cuisine quickly became more individual and unique. People started eating meat more often. However, there were still some Buddhists that refused meat. Some of the new dishes that gained popularity during this time were:
- Grilled
fish and meat (yakimono)
- Simmered food (nimono)
- Steamed foods (mushimono)
- Soups made from vegetables
- Jellied fish
In the 16th century, tempura was introduced to the Japanese by sailing Portuguese. The Japanese traded with the Portuguese. In addition to trade, the Portuguese tried to unsuccessfully convert the Japanese to Catholicism. Like many other Japanese foods, it wasn’t invented in Japan. Instead it was brought it through the sharing and trading of worldviews and cultures.
From the 9th to 18th century, Japan was isolated from the whole world. Except for the introduction of tempura, no culture clashes occurred during this time. Because of this isolation, Japan has developed a very unique and different culture that is not seen anywhere in the world today. This is mainly due to the fact that Japan is an island isolated from the mainland of society.
Today, Japanese cuisine directly affects almost everybody in the world. Due to the fact that we are a “global village”, the spreading of world views and ideas has never been easier. Japanese cuisine exists in nearly every country. Sushi is by far the most popular Japanese food in many countries outside of Japan. With the spreading of these ideas, many societies have put own unique twists of the Japanese foods of their choice. For example, cucumber and yam sushi did not exist in Japan. Although today, countries all around the world (including Japan) have this type of sushi. This history of Japanese cuisine is different from any other countries’ cuisine. Much of the food was in fact brought in from other countries. Japanese cuisine takes a certain passion and love to maintain.
