You Eat That?

In Japan, meal time is just as much about social activity as it is nourishment. In fact, having 3 proper meals accounts for the entirety of your health, mental and physical. This idea is common in western societies as well, but if someone seems sad, they may be asked if they've had a proper breakfast. If its known that someone in the office has missed breakfast, their coworkers might produce some candy or bread that they've stashed away. One day, when I admitted I had forgotten breakfast, someone in the office gave me hershey's chocolate kisses and some milk along with the this statement: "For your good mental health, please eat."

I've collected a few photos to show what I've been eating and the environment I eat in.
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First, lunch at school.

This kid reminds me of myself when I was a kid. He looks a bit like this painting thats eerily hiding in Adam's old closet. He is a student at one of the elementary schools. Notice he is using a spoon. For certain meals, we use knives, forks and spoons.


Here is a close-up of what he was eating. I was lucky enough to have my own plate of food, so I snapped a picture. The milk here smells rotten, or rather like its just about to go rotten. It has to do with the cows diet. They have strict rules about how they treat cows and what they eat in Japan, and the Japanese often believe their cows are the best in the world. They cite the 2003 american outbreak of mad cow disease as definitive proof. I haven't had Kobe beef yet, but I hear its excellent.

The main vegetable was corn and beans. I think they were edemame peas, but I'm not sure. It was really good. The meat was chicken, including some disgusting gristle and the skin. The soup was alphabet soup with added cabbage, onions and carrots. It was quite delicious! Notice too that have no rice! Schools usually have a bread day, once or twice a week. They get piece of bread and either some chocolate in a pouch (top right of the tray) or some jam, maybe strawberry. So I looked around and saw the kids smothering chocolate on to the bread and had my doubts. But it turns out the chocolate is not nearly as sweet as american chocolate so it goes well with the bread.


At the junior high we had a strange meal that I really liked. The main dish was chickpeas (more or less) and what I thought was roasted green beans. It turns out that greenish stuff with the beans are tiny fish. They taste like razor blades. Sharp points stick into your mouth and it takes getting used to, but its not so bad. By the end I wanted more actually. And of course the stinky milk, vegetable soup and rice! At the bottom left of the rice bowl is a purplish sphere. This is a plum... I kid you not. They magically shrink it with crazy Japanese futureology, (pickling) and slap it in your rice. The japanese word for this thing is Umeboshi, its not exactly a plum, but thats what they tell foreigners. Its amazingly sweet, to an unbearable degree. I am told its very healthy but I just don't like it.


Japanese students eat in the classroom. I explained this a bit before. But I wanted to reiterate that this is a time for kids to relax and talk with each other and with the teacher. This is where the teachers try to catch up on student gossip and give the students some attention on a personal level. The devision between "Sensei" and "Seito"(student) is still very much a gulf, even at these times, and the boundaries are clear but students still relate to their teacher and each other in this slightly more relaxed atmosphere. The teacher always sits with the students. I've never seen a teacher sit at a separate desk.


The elementary school kids are more relaxed and crazy in general. I absolutely love teaching and eating with the kids.


I think in recent years, the japanese started paying closer attention to dental hygiene. They brush 3 times a day, everyday. Every student and teacher has a toothbrush and toothpaste at school. After lunch they brush their teeth, straightaway. This kids just finished brushing their teeth. There is a girl in the background with the toothbrush sticking out of her mouth. Also, everyone has to wash out their milk carton so that it can be torn open, stacked and packed away for the trash man, who later, burns it.


Adult food:

This is karage. If you see japanese fat people, this is part of the reason. This is basically deep fried chicken pieces and its delicious. Very delicious. It's the sort of thing you go for when you've had a few beers and are starving in the middle of the night. Not unlike the disgusting hamburgers at jackinthebox. Delicious! This bowl of food you've seen before, but I thought I'd explain it. You can get this at restaurants as an appetizer and often at Karaoke places. The bed of shredded lettuce is clutch, there are only a few pieces of chicken so the lettuce is a consolation to the people who were too slow with their chopsticks.


Chris snapped this picture in Fukuoka. It's a Ramen stand. The streets were lined with these. They are open almost all night and you get a big bowl of ramen noodles cooked with a some meat or fish and a few veggies. I know what you're thinking, "ew ramen?!". This is legit ramen, its absolutely delicious. People sit around and chat with the other patrons and the chef. I think they get to know the chef and become a regular to certain stands. During the winter, they let down those curtain and everyone is warmed by the boiling water. Steam fills the area and the more people pack around the stand, the warmer it stays.


Tonight was my second Enkai (Drinking Party). Enkai's are are usually done to welcome someone or see someone off. In this case, it was both. One teacher was leaving to have her baby and the other was replacing her. Enkai's start of slow and boring but get better as everyone loosens up. It all starts with some boring speeches, then a toast, then we begin. This is the aftermath of the food. I forgot to take a pic before we started eating...


There were plates of sushi, a couple kinds of fish, some octopus and a conch I think. All of it was raw!


There were plates of fried food too. Shrimp, chicken, squid tentacles, whole small fish and also, some egg (the yellow thing) and some boiled chestnuts.


As the Enkai wears on people talk and drink and become relaxed.


At the end someone gives a (apparently) hilarious speech.


And we go home happy.

I think in much the same way as south Louisiana, Japan likes to center events around food also. There is always something new to try, something strange that someone is particularly proud of or a special dish originating in the area that you just HAVE to try. I'm never hungry!