日本食事: Japanese Meals

Questions to Consider: How has the modern lifestyle changed Japanese dietary and eating habits? What traditional values still seem to prevail? - Breakfast is eaten in various ways. Traditional Japanese includes: rice, miso soup, fish, pickles and seaweed, served with tea. Western style includes: bread, butter, jam, eggs, some sort of meat (ex. bacon)Families usually don't eat breakfast together.- Lunch is rarely eaten at home on weekdays since kids are in school and parents are at work.Noodles or fried rice is common in lunches at home.Sometimes obento is prepared for the family. Although many adults eat out for lunch or eat at employee cafeterias. Adults also purchase obento at nearby convenience stores. - Dinner is usually eaten late in the evening. Some students may return home for a meal and depart afterwards to attend cram school （じゅく）. After work, many men go off to drink or eat with their colleagues. Fathers rarely have evening meals with their family. Usually eat traditional Japanese meals, but Western style meals are popular too. - Take out foodIncrease of young Japanese buying take out Most popular location: dept. store basement floors which offer an array of prepared foods. Dept. stores within station buildings are convenient for commuters.- Tableware Mismatch of many different kinds of dishes and utensils. Japanese plates, bowls, cups and other dishes come in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns. Smaller than Western dishes. Various material. (ex. porcelain, glass)Sometimes based on season. ex. summer = glassware in cool blues, whites, bright reds or yellow to express the season.Despite the changes originating from modern Japanese lifestyle, appreciation of food for quality, taste and artistic presentation is still evident in every aspect of Japanese life.