TRADITIONAL JAPANESE FOOD

Traditional cuisine and dietary culture fostered in Japan. Washoku utilizes umami derived from seafood and vegetables as the basic flavor and is drawing worldwide attention as a healthy alternative to Western cuisine rich in animal fat. In 2013, washoku joined UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, which accelerated the emergence of washoku restaurants in many different parts of the world. Japanese say “Itadaki-masu” before each meal and “Gochiso-sama” when they are done to express their appreciation for those who made the foods and prepared the dishes, including Mother Earth – a subtle yet indispensable ingredient of washoku culture.