＜理事⾧賞＞

A bite of something new
Mika Kato（加藤 美佳）
Close your eyes and imagine that it is almost dinnertime. The smell of oil and chicken wafts faintly
from the kitchen, while lively conversation combined with the dynamic crackling of the frying process fills
the atmosphere. After a few minutes pass, your whole family settles down at the table. Dinner is served.
A toast is in order for a day well spent, and glasses clink followed by brief silence as you drink. Whiledebriefing each other about the latest news and life updates, you dig into the crispy karaage and steaming
hot rice in front of you.
The biggest factor that helped me in learning about different cultures is food. Most, if not everyonein the world has this in common: mealtimes are a time for nourishment and developing a deeper connection
with yourself and others. Whether it be a cake covered in sprinkles to celebrate a birthday or your greatgrandmother’s famous casserole for Sunday dinner, every meal reveals a rich story behind its origins; itserves as the key that unlocks an intricate wealth of knowledge about regional culture and community.
Growing up in a diverse neighborhood, I often ate different global cuisines with people from all over
the world. At home, my mother often made miso soup and rice for breakfast. Potluck parties at school
meant each food would be accompanied by a flag of the food’s origin placed beside the aluminum foil trays.
There was a retail mall with a food court serving Korean and Japanese fusion a mere seven minutes away
by car; another five minutes and there were Mediterranean restaurants, a Burger King, a Chinese noodle
shop, and an Indian food truck that stops by the gas station on weekdays. Whenever I entered a different
restaurant, there would be dazzling traditional decorations and a vastly different menu, promising acompletely different experience that I could learn from.
Although I was initially uncomfortable with trying unfamiliar food, I am grateful for having frequent
opportunities to explore different cuisine. At restaurants, I could sometimes see cooks preparing the food;at family-owned restaurants, the servers would explain to us the origins of the dish and the occasions
associated with it. I still remember trying Thanksgiving turkey for the first time with my family on a rather
chilly Thanksgiving evening in 2012. Although each following Thanksgiving looked different for my family,
I had the opportunity to learn something new about its history almost every year.
Food is also an important factor connecting me to my Japanese heritage. Raised in the UnitedStates despite holding a Japanese passport, my identity felt split between the two countries. I was moreused to using English and celebrating American holidays but speaking Japanese and the constant plansof moving there pulled me back to my roots. After moving to Japan last year, my mother and I exploredvarious Japanese food, bonding over new experiences and pushing ourselves to learn more about thecountry we call home by eating unfamiliar recipes together and learning its backstory. My relatives in thecountryside would serve us food with a distinguished sense of local pride. They answer enthusiasticallywhen I ask about its history and significance. I would often send pictures of the food I ate to curious friendsback in California through social media; sharing the unique delicacies with others filled me with a newfoundsense of belonging in Japanese culture.
The cultural experience is not limited to the food itself; manners and appropriate presentation
during meals varies all over the world. Some people eat with a fork and knife, others with chopsticks. Somesit on the ground while they eat, others might prefer a chair. Dinner might be four courses or just the main
meal itself, happening at six or ten o’clock at night. The variety makes mealtimes all the more meaningful,as they further my understanding of what is appropriate in different cultures while eating. Learning about
these different cultural aspects is a humbling experience, and sometimes it starts uncomfortableconversations. However, these conversations help me strengthen my relationships with others andembrace unfamiliar cultural elements.
I still have much to discover, and trying to expose myself to new things can be daunting at times.
However, learning through food makes it exciting and accessible: it furthers culinary experiences, unlocks
opportunities to learn more about diverse cultural values, and cultivates relationships with others throughmeaningful conversation and positive memories.
Want to develop further cross-cultural understanding in your own community? Start by searching
online for a new recipe or walking into the restaurant down the street- and learn as you get a taste for thedistinct cultural nuances of food, one meal at a time.