Why Japanese Cuisine Became a UNESCO Treasure
Japanese food culture experienced its greatest development during the Edo period . For example, staple dishes of modern Japanese cuisine such as soba noodles, tempura, nigiri sushi, and grilled eel kabayaki all originated as the four famous delicacies of Edo. After the Sengoku period ended and the Edo period began, Japan entered a 265-year-long era of peace. This brought an influx of people from various regions to Edo. Additionally, time that had previously been spent on “ fighting ” and “ survival ” during the war-torn era was now devoted to “ aesthetic refinement ” and “ culture ” in this peaceful era. Samurai began preparing meals for the emperor and shogun , and street vendors in Edo sold tempura and sushi. As a result, meticulous and carefully crafted dishes were developed. This also led to the gathering of diverse regional food cultures in Edo, and with the city’s growth, a new “ Edo cuisine” was born , enriched by the a...
