Sushi
rolls are part of the most popular Japanese food in Australia. However that SUSHI ROLL is very different from Japanese sushi. This is because a lot of sushi
restaurants or take-away shops are owned by non-Japanese. According to
Shimemura (2002,p.85), one of the processes of globalisation is not being
conservative and being flexible with local culture and customs such as the McDonald's
philosophy.
The SUSHI ROLL is not traditional Japanese sushi anymore
but it is still Japanese food and a good source of globalised Japanese culture.
Incidentally,
why has the SUSHI ROLL become popular worldwide? According to Bestor
(2005, p.15), a lot of positive information of Japan such as the average life expectancy of
Japanese people is the longest of all countries were
reported by the media worldwide; therefore, many people believe that there
is the connection between good health and Japanese food.
As
mentioned above, the SUSHI ROLL in Australia is totally different sushi from
Japanese sushi; therefore, it might be no longer healthier than other foods.
However, a lot of people still believe sushi is healthy because the positive
impression is supported by the media.
Cultural
flow is an important part of globalisation such as performance, fashion and
food (Moore 2012). Multicultural foods are eaten in a local
area today. Therefore, food might be one of the most familiar examples about
flow of globalisation today.
References
Bestor, C 2005, ‘How sushi went global’, in Watson, L,Caldwell, L(ed.), The cultural politics of food and eating: a reader, Blackwell Publishing, Carlton, Victoria
Moore, C 2012, ALC215 Lecture, Deakin University, retrieved 21 July 2012, <https://d2l.deakin.edu.au/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=31220&tId=1594120>
Shimemura, Y 2002, ‘Globalization vs. Americanization: Is the World Being Americanized by the Dominance of American Culture’, comparative civilizations review, Vol.47, pp.80-91, retrieved 18 July2012, < https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/CCR/article/viewFile/12818/12682>
Shimemura, Y 2002, ‘Globalization vs. Americanization: Is the World Being Americanized by the Dominance of American Culture’, comparative civilizations review, Vol.47, pp.80-91, retrieved 18 July2012, < https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/CCR/article/viewFile/12818/12682>
Wikipedia 2012, retrieved 20 July 2012, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi#Western-style_sushi>
Wikipedia 2012, retrieved 20 July 2012, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy>
Hey Kanako,
ReplyDeleteNice post! I liked the way you compared sushi to Mcdonalds. I see more sushi in Melbourne than Mcdonalds. It would be interesting to find out if the sushi rolls we get here are unhealthier to traditional Japanese ones that are linked to good health. I liked your point about whether or not we are getting the authentic taste of a culture, many would adapt to suit the country no doubt.
I think food is a great example of globalisation, and I notice that new exotic food shops open up and people can't get enough of it.
My prediction of the next food business to boom is the 'churros' or 'spanish doughnut'
I agree with Shimemura on that "one of the processes of globalisation is not being conservative and being flexible with local culture and customs". Just as McDonald's has different services, facilities and menus to suit the different areas of the world, sushi has changed to suit the western taste: most familiarly the cooked tuna and California rolls. And like you mentioned, food is just one example of surprisingly the differences that globalisation creates which is an interesting and perhaps unfortunate point.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, it was clear and concise, so very easy to read. Keep it up!