Pecha Kucha 20×20!

I enjoyed this presentation, and I did my best (I think...;P).

This time, I tried to speak clearly, use gestures and look the audience to make them understand what I want to say. According to the comments I got, I could speak with strong voice, so I might succeed in my attempt.

However, on reflection, I crammed so many things into my presentation. I wanted to introduce the definition, survey, examples, opinion etc... Therefore, my solution parts was little bit weak. Some classmates mentioned this problem on the comment sheets and they said they wanted to know more.
Also, I was sometimes at a loss for words and spoke faster than usual because I felt the strain at that time. I cared so much about the 20 seconds for 1 slide, so this was bad point of my presentation.

I think I have to practice more before the performance not to get nervous.
Next time, I'll try to keep my voice tone and speak slower than usual.
Even so, this is very good opportunity for me!

essay draft for ARW fall

Japanese Food from International World

The tradition of cuisine is deeply rooted in the nation’s culture. We cannot live without eating, so dietary culture is the foundation of our life. It is a good way to introduce and explain culture from the aspect of food, and Japan can be said that it is one of the country succeed in spreading their culture through the promotion of Japanese cuisine. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in Japan, there are about 25,000~30,000 Japanese restaurants around the world. (The Current Situation Of Japanese Restaurants In the World) Almost people know Japanese food and they can use chopsticks very well. Japanese food is getting popular more and more. However, is this Japanese cuisine and image of it actual and correct? Now, Japanese culture of food is exposed to danger of misunderstanding. There are so many wrong Japanese restaurants sometimes owned by foreign people and they serve not Japanese food. There are conflicts between local food industry and Japanese one. Therefore, Japan should promote Japanese food to abroad appropriately. I researched about this issue and made a survey of the Japanese food around the world by the interview to foreign people.

Firstly, what is the definition of Japanese food? In her book, A companion to the anthropology of Japan, Jennifer Ellen Robertson says “Japanese cuisine is best known abroad for its emphasis on the freshness and quality of ingredients, and beauty of presentation…together with a stress on them and harmony between the food, the vessel, the setting, and the season in which food is served.” Also, she mentions that the Japanese food culture is multicultural one and it embraces foreign ingredients and dishes, along with an impulse to domesticate them. According to my survey, foreign people’s impression to Japanese food is mainly…(not yet)

In the documentary, The Japanese Table Sushi: Now a Global Taste (NHK program), it is said that eating Sushi is one of the social status symbols in Europe and US. Also, in the past, many people shied the way to eat raw fish and thought it was savage, but after few decades, eating raw fish is taken as a matter of course. Sushi boom changed the perception in the world. However, when I went to Vermont states in US for SEA program, I had a strange experience of Sushi. After few weeks I arrived there, I got tired of American junk and heavy food, so I was eager for “natural” Japanese food. I went to an Asian restaurant in downtown and ordered “Sushi-role with soup.” I imagined the sushi role with tuna and miso soup, but in fact, they served the Sushi role with fried shrimp and Tom yum goon (it’s from Thailand)!  Also, my friend from South Korea said Korean people eat sushi with Gochujang (it is Korean spicy source) According to my survey, foreign people ate Sushi as their first experience of Japanese food, and it is their favorite now. However, there are so many wrong Sushi restaurants such as mine, so their experience may no be possibly the real Japanese food. There are an increasing number of Japanese restaurants outside Japan but they do not use Japanese ingredients or cooking methods and still continue to operate under the guise of a Japanese restaurant.

To protect Japanese culture against these issues and increase consumer confidence in Japanese restaurants and promote the export of Japanese products, MAFF tried to make a system of certification of Japanese restaurants in foreign countries. This is called “Sushi Police” by world media, and some countries criticized it. As a result, MAFF gave up to make a certain system and entrust to NPO to certificate them. Similar system is put into effect in France and Thailand, but actually it is difficult to make a border which distinguish the right restaurant and wrong one. Also, such restaurants called “wrong” may adapt Japanese food to local taste. It can be said as the fusion of cultures. It is not “wrong” thing. Japan should pay attention to the diversity of culture and understand it. Nowadays, MAFF holds a conference and attempts to make Japanese food be on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage to press for improvement in quality and reliance of Japan. French, Mediterranean, and Mexican foods have been already registered, and Korean court food will be next November. Japanese government should carry out this project.

Japan has a wonderful, beautiful, and sensitive food culture. Japan can bring it abroad to get rid of misunderstanding or hatred toward Japan and it is also for more prosperity of Japanese economy. However, we have to pay attention to the balance between our culture and local one. Therefore, the government should protect Japanese food culture and promote it to the world, but also they should pay attention to the diversity of culture and understand it.

Outline for my essay

This is my first outline, but I think it should be improve and made more deeply.

So, I'll fix it again and again before the next class.

The World’s “Japanese Food”

Research Question:

Should Japan spread their “real” culture of food or allow to arrange and name it as Japanese food?

Thesis Statement:

Japan should introduce their own culture of food with considering the diversity of food culture and they should pay attention to how other countries place Japanese food. This is for the following three reasons:

1.     Japan has a particular and special custom of food, so they have to maintain and inherit it.

2.     There is a danger of misunderstanding about Japanese food because other countries enter into the international market of Japanese food. They arrange it too much.

3.     There is a conflict between local restaurant and Japanese one around the world. Japanese restaurant sometimes take over the community of local restaurants and companies.

I. Introduction

A.    Background info.- Statistic of Japanese restaurant in the world/Evaluation of Japanese food in Michelin Guide/

B.    My experience in SEA program

C.    Thesis

II. The definition of Japanese food

A.    Attempt to put Japanese food as Intangible Cultural Heritage

B.    Special characteristic of Japanese food

III. The problem of misunderstanding about Japanese food

A.    Survey from ICU students-What is your Japanese food?

B.    Existence of not real but apparent Japanese restaurants in the world

C.    Importance of introducing actual and certain culture

IV. The conflict- Japanese VS Local restaurant and company

A.    Good point in construction of Japanese restaurant

-We can introduce it easily.

B.    Bad point in construction of Japanese restaurant

-There is a conflict between local and Japanese industries

V. Other aspect of Japanese food-not yet

VI. Conclusion- not yet

My Essay Topic

I still have not decide my essay topic completely, but the most interesting thing for me is,

"What is Japan and Japanese from  the view of  foreign country's people?"

Few years ago, the image of Japan was "the country of Samurai",  I think.However, I'm sure that that image is changing now. It is, "the country of Animation."

When I went to Vermont Stat in US for SEA program and said "I'm from Japan," some of foreign people answered "Oh! I know NARUTO!" or " I love Ghibli animation!" In fact, they know Japanese animation better than me!!! However, they were surprised that I didn't know so much about these Japanese culture. We think "萌え" or "オタク" culture is particular aspect of our culture., but they don't think so.

Also, Japanese food is popular around the world, so there was a Japanese restaurant in Vermont, but there is something different from real Japanese one. Actually, the owner of the restaurant was Chinese. They arranged our culture but said, " This is Japanese food!" I think it's OK, but I felt something strange for that.

In these ways, people might misunderstand about Japan and our culture, but it is difficult to convey everything. Furthermore, in business, we try to focus on one aspect of our culture and advertise it to make more profit.

I'm interested in these contradiction and want to know what the best way to introduce our culture is. I'll try to make a survey of my topic by interviewing OYR and Septem and April students and make a conclusion for it.