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Amazing Japanese School Lunch Part-2

2016.10.27

Charms of Japan

As I mentioned that Japanese school lunch is not only beneficial for students

to enjoy the meals, it is also the time for the students to learn about health,

cooking, cleaning, manner, team work and knowing proper ways of eating certain foods.

The school I used to attend to in the united states had a cafeteria for lunch.

The students wait in a line, choose the foods from the foods prepared

on the counter and cooks serve the foods on students’ plates for them.

It is very different from Japanese school lunch.

Of course, the foods are completely different from what we have in Japan.

While I was in the school in the states (maybe, they serve different ones),

they used to serve French fries, hash browns, spaghetti, sausages, fried chicken,

beans, jelly, orange juice and so on. My favorite one was hash browns.

As soon as the students get their foods and sit, they start eating.

They can sit wherever they want to sit. After they finish eating,

they go throwing away their leftovers and put away their plates.

One of the major differences is the purpose of the school lunch time.

During lunch break, the students in Japan learn team work and the importance of foods.

Unlike Japanese school lunch time, the students in the states get to relax and

enjoy the time with their friends which seems to be their main purpose of their lunch break.

Another difference is that there should not be leftovers in Japan.

Leaving any foods left is considered a negative behavior.

So it is rare for Japanese students leave leftovers.

On the other hand, in America, they never judged me negatively

whenever I had leftovers. I remember they always told me not to force myself

to eat everything if I couldn't because it could hurt my stomach.

And clearly, the menu is different.

There is a culture difference behind each school lunch in each country.

Let’s see what they have for school lunch in Japan, America and other countries.

I would like to share a video of "jojonotdead",

"School lunches from around the world". Please enjoy!

T.F

Amazing Japanese School Lunch Part-1

2016.10.21

Charms of Japan

As Japanese foods have become popular in the world, did you know that Japanese school lunch has been also highly valued around world as well?

Have you ever had Japanese school lunch and/or heard about how great it is? It is well balanced nutritionally and delicious. Also, the students don’t just eat their school lunch, but they also learn important lessons during school lunch time.

They learn about nutrition, health, cooking, cleaning, manner and team works.

Most Japanese school children decide who will bring the foods from the kitchen, serve the foods and clean. Usually, a group of students take that role, and they always wear surgical masks, aprons and hair net caps for them keep the clean eating environment. The group of people is changed every day, week and/or month depends on school/class rules.

Before they eat, they say “itadakimasu” which means to say “let’s eat” or “thank you for the foods” in Japanese.

While having lunch, the students learn how to eat any kinds of foods properly. During winter, some schools in Fukui Prefecture in Japan, crabs are served to each student so they can learn how to eat it properly without making a mess.

And of course, after they finish eating, another important thing they learn is to clean. The group of people which is in charge of the school lunch for the day, week and/or month, they bring everything they used back to the kitchen.

Ok, now let’s see how the students have school lunch times in Japan.

I would like to share the video of “CafCu Media”, “School Lunch in Japan-It’s Not Just About Eating!”

T.F

Zen temples and Daruma

2016.05.26

Charms of Japan

I saw a powerful painting of Daruma when I went to Daianzenji Temple in Fukui City.
I wasn’t quite sure why Daruma was hung at a Zen temple, so I checked it out and found
that Daruma was the founder of Chinese Zen Buddhism, who was an Indian Buddhist monk.

It is said that Zen was introduced to China by the Daruma,
and it split into the five Zen sects such as Rinzai and Soto.
Then it also had a significant influence on religions in Japan.
Therefore, at Zen temples, they usually hang hanging scrolls depicting Daruma
as a kind of Buddha statue.

It is also said that Daruma faced a wall and continued meditating for nine years,
so in the end his arms and legs necrotized.
Daruma dolls which are familiar to Japanese represent the sitting figure of the Daruma,
and it is still widely popular as a lucky charm not only in the Zen sect. (H.S)