FAST FOOD, JAPANESE STYLE

and restaurants. Fast food doesn’t need to be a hybrid farm-to-table experience. It is supposed to be fast and largely inconsequential.

This is where our views differ from the Japanese, and where we might stand to learn something. There is an immense amount of respect for ingredients and food in Japan, and it has trickled down to the country’s fast food offerings, rendering no meal inconsequential. “Itadakimasu,” which translates to “I humbly receive” is said before eating. It is considered wasteful not to finish your plate, especially if it consists of meat and fish, as something gave up its life for your meal. Cooks train for an average of 10 years before they are allowed to even touch meat or fish in traditional Japanese kitchens. Establishments serving Tajima beef know the name of the cow that the beef came from and tell you this information table-side if you ask.

Food matters in Japan, where the assumption is usually that you can spare the 15 minutes it takes to enjoy a bento at the place of ordering, not on the street or in your car. Because of this, many konbinis offer seating areas where customers can eat and drink at their leisure. These areas are helpful, since it’s considered rude to eat or drink in many public spaces, including the subway.

The result is that even the most scarfed-down, ugly and hurried of meals are a little more enjoyable. But the prevailing ideology is not idealistic. It simply acknowledges that daily life usually requires a visit to the konbini more than it does to a five-star restaurant, accommodating those who need to fill their stomachs to the highest degree. The approach is pragmatic.

And while we might not care enough to implement it at home, we should still be jealous of the results.