Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
meatandbee-larvae,fish-eyesandfish-skin.Itwillbemoreprofitable,however,tonotethe
general attitude to eating of the Japanese at the time. The fundamental nutritional require-
ment was met by the cereal that concluded the meal: it was normally eaten with a certain
amount of the husk and germ, so that vitamin deficiencies were not the problem that they
were later when highly polished rice brought beriberi to its eaters. The miso soup and ve-
getables added flavor, some second-class protein, and some vitamins. There was an uncon-
scious appreciation that these three ingredients were necessary to keep life going, for they
werenotdeniedtothelowliestemployee,foodforwhomwaskepttotheminimumconsist-
ent with his health and working efficiency. Basic foods were not to be eaten for pleasure,
but only to satisfy hunger. Simple meals were eaten quickly, with the least possible time
wasted in conversation.
The kitchen in most houses was on the lower level with an earth floor; one could thus
go in from the street without removing one's footwear. There was a wooden sink for wash-
ing vegetables, with a large water-butt or pot as a water-supply; this was replenished from
a well, which was in the garden of a large house, or, in the case of tenements and other
smaller dwellings, there would be one common to a neighborhood, and naturally a center
ofgossip and social life forthe local wives. The cooking-stove ( 77 ) was built upwith mor-
tar, with places for the wood fire and holes to take metal boilers—for rice, miso, cooking
vegetables, andheating water.Thewoodensinkwassometimes usedforchoppingfishand
vegetables, using the excellent knives that were available in a variety of shapes and sizes
for various purposes. In all but the smallest kitchens, there would also be a boarded area
at the higher level, leading on to the matted area of the house, and on this the cook sat,
possibly on thin rush or straw mats, and worked at the preparation of dishes, using an as-
sortment of wooden, china, or lacquer containers, basket-work strainers, mortars, pestles
and so on.
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