Interpretation of Yatai in a Contemporary Period
Unlike the standard, past stationary settings of the restaurant or home, dining today often occurs in mobile environments—made conspicuous to the public eye, yet often overlooked. In particular, “street” food is a culinary niche that enables a heightened awareness of a food’s sensory elements rather than placing attention on other components such as restaurant decor. Specifically, I turn to the highly frequented yatai (food cart) business in Fukuoka, Japan, the shifting attitudes toward yatai in a contemporary period involving the COVID-19 outbreak, and its salient presence in the Japanese matsuri (festival) scene to tackle the cultural implications exerted upon locals, tourists, and academia—namely in how they subvert the common dining experience, bolster a unique localized dining culture, and complement a nation’s culture by reinforcing tradition.
