Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Washoku: Japan's traditional cuisine wins cultural heritage status
Washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine.
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Washoku: Japan's traditional cuisine wins cultural heritage status
Earlier this month, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, granted special cultural status to something called Washoku.
Washoku refers to traditional Japanese cuisine, which often features seasonal ingredients. This is only the second time UNESCO has granted this special status to a national cuisine. Japanese officials were quite pleased with the designation.
The Prime Minister said he hoped it would keep future generations eating Washoku foods in an era where Western cuisine and fast food have infiltrated Japan. Atsuko Kanai, vice president of the Mutual Trading Company, talked about Washoku on Take Two.