The 5 Nice Rice Meals of Japan

INTRODUCTION

In 1939, The Imperial Family Company chosen a consultant of native dishes nationwide. It was the 5 main rice dishes known as “The 5 Nice Rice Meals of Japan”. These contains Fukagawa meshi (Tokyo, Fukagawa), Chushichi meshi (Ogawa-cho, Saitama), Sayori meshi (mountain area of Gifu prefecture), Kayaku meshi (Osaka, Namba area), Uzume meshi (Tsuwano area, Shimane prefecture)

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RICE IN JAPAN?

Rice is so essential in Japanese society that it turns into the essence of the tradition. Furthermore, it manifests in quite a few elements of Japanese cultural life, starting from folklore, festivals, and household rituals to arts, crafts, and cooking. The significance of rice in Japan cannot be emphasize sufficient. Consequently, it’s the supply of conventional spirit, sake, and left as choices to gods and ancestors. Rice cultivation occurred for over 2,000 years in Japan. The cooked rice known as “Gohan” or “meshi” is a staple meals that has develop into a part of its weight-reduction plan. The phrase “Kome” actually means rice in Japanese and refers to raw rice. Due to this fact, Japanese eat this frequently and even every day.  

Moreover, the time period “Don” is a suffix in Japanese dish names. Furthermore, Don is the abbreviation for “Donburi (丼),” which refers to a rice bowl dish.

HOW MUCH RICE IS CONSUMED IN JAPAN?

Japanese devour about 9 million tons of rice a yr. About three quarters of Japanese eat rice meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nonetheless, the Japanese are consuming much less rice meals than they used to. In 1962, Japan’s financial system was booming. And the annual consumption of rice per capita was 118.3 kilograms. It has dropped since, nonetheless, falling to 54.4 kilograms per particular person in 2016. Calculating one bowl of white rice as weighing 60 grams, Japanese individuals ate 5.4 bowls every day on common in 1962. Whereas producers are making each effort to enhance flavour and texture at agricultural experiment stations throughout the nation, shoppers’ transfer away from the previous favorite staple reveals no indicators of slowing.

Lately many Japanese eat bread and noodles as an alternative of rice meals.

Whereas Japanese individuals are not consuming as a lot rice, their consumption of meat, milk and dairy merchandise, and fat and oils has elevated. Along with the elevated desire for a extra Western-style weight-reduction plan, the tendency to eat much less as individuals become old. A fall within the total inhabitants are contributory components to lowered rice meals consumption. In recent times, there has additionally been an enormous development of individuals aiming to remain slim by slicing down on carbohydrates.

In line with 2014 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries survey, almost half of the respondents stated they selected to not eat rice meals within the evenings as a result of they “wish to attempt all kinds of staple meals.” On busy mornings, individuals additionally choose to decide on staple meals apart from rice that may be eaten rapidly. Additionally, don’t want a lot time for preparation and cleansing up. It appears, nonetheless, that Japanese individuals right this moment overlook its true worth.

WHAT ARE THE FIVE GREAT RICE MEALS OF JAPAN?

The 5 Nice Rice Meals of Japan are the next.

Chushichi meshi (忠七めし)

Fukagawa meshi (深川めし)

Sayori meshi (さより飯)

Kayaku meshi (かやく飯)

Uzume-meshi (うずめ飯)