Student Papers and Projects

Japanese Food and Culture, Representations of Japanese Cuisine in Media

Salivating to Anime Food and Japanese Food in Film: Japanese Food in a 2D Space​

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The eyes feast before the stomach” and “eating with your eyes” express the phenomenon of seeing the visual appeal of a food as an indicator for taste. As such, scenes within film depicting and emphasizing a dish or a meal can cause the audience to salivate and long to experience the dish being presented without any of the other sensory input included. Japanese cuisine depicted within film usually gets this reaction. However, the depictions of food within anime has built a mass fanbase that has skyrocketed intrigue towards and popularity of Japanese cuisine amongst Gen Z, Millennials, or anyone who has been graced with watching a Ghibli movie. Studio Ghibli’s distinct stylization of food has left many scrambling to recreate and learn about the cuisine presented, from the domestic Howl’s Moving Castle’s cast iron eggs and bacon to the extravagant tables of various dishes in Spirited Away.

Hybridity and Innovation in Japanese Foods, Japanese Food and Culture

Interpretation of Yatai in a Contemporary Period

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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.

Asian American Food Forum

History of Peking Duck

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History of Peking Duck Henrick Koo – 2023 https://twatanabe.wescreates.wesleyan.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Henrick-Koo-History-of-Peking-Duck.mp4 See Henrick’s full presentation slides below: Henrick-Koo-History-of-Peking-Duck Download

Asian American Food Forum

BCD Tofu House

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BCD Tofu House Hannah Kwa – 2023 https://twatanabe.wescreates.wesleyan.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hannah-Kwa-BCD-Tofu-House.mp4 See Hannah’s full presentation slides below: Hannah-Kwa-BCD-Presentation Download

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