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Letter From Tokyo

From premium beef to divine sushi, Japan shines with washoku, one of its top soft power assets

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Members of the media crowd around as a 238kg bluefin tuna that was sold for US$788,440 (S$1.05 million) at the first tuna auction of the New Year is watered down outside the Sushi Ginza Onodera main store in Omotesando, Tokyo on January 5, 2024.

A bluefin tuna at Sushi Ginza Onodera in Omotesando, Tokyo, on Jan 5. Food is obviously one of Japan’s top soft power assets – even if many outsiders are squeamish about eating natto, raw egg, chicken or horse sashimi, and blowfish.

PHOTO: AFP

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Itadakimasu, or I humbly receive this meal.

This everyday Japanese expression, said before tucking in, is imbued with outsized meaning as it honours everything that made the dish possible – from Mother Nature to the farmers, fishermen, logistics workers, the craftsmen behind the crockery and the chef.

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