THE IMPORTANCE OF ASIAN FOODS

When it comes to food, Americans don't often think about the place where it was
produced or the ingredients it contains. The tradition of Asian food is often
overlooked when it comes to American appropriation of Asian cuisine. Asian
cuisines may easily convey a country's might, making them important educational
tools in Asian culture. Many people in America are exposed to a wide range of
Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines. It is critical to
recognize the importance of a country's culture through a shared "tool" such as
cuisine. A number of students at Oberlin College in Ohio complained about the
cultural appropriation of Asian food in the school newspaper. "When you're
cooking a country's meal for other people, including those who have never
experienced the original dish before, you're also expressing the meaning of the
dish as well as its culture," Tomoyo Joshi, a junior Japanese student, said,
criticizing the college's sushi serving (Dunham & Friedersdorf). The distinct flavor
and characteristics of a country's food indicate a cultural connotation. Many
individuals are able to appreciate and absorb Japanese culture through everyday
accessibility, such as Japanese food. However, many people are misinformed
about Japanese culture as a result of the Westernization of Japanese cuisine.