food/plants/animals

納豆 – Nattō

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Nattō is made by fermenting soybeans with nattō bacteria. It has a distinct smell and a sticky texture, which even many Japanese people find unappealing despite growing up with it. However, nattō is a nutritional powerhouse—rich in protein, essential for the body; iron, which supports blood production; and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. It also promotes a healthy gut environment. When it comes to nutritious foods, nattō is often the first thing that comes to mind for many Japanese people.

Interestingly, the bacteria responsible for nattō’s fermentation have remarkable resilience and an astonishing ability to reproduce. Experiments have shown that nattō bacteria can survive extreme conditions—temperatures as high as 100°C, as low as -200°C, the vacuum of outer space, and even the acidity of gastric juices. Incredibly, a single nattō bacterium can multiply to about 4 billion within just 16 hours.

納豆は大豆を納豆菌で発酵させて作られる。納豆は癖のある匂いと独特の粘りがある食べ物で、納豆文化の中で生活している日本人でも嫌いな人は多い。しかし納豆は体に大切なタンパク質、血を作る鉄分、高血圧防止に効くカリウムが豊富で、腸内環境も整えてくれるという超優れ物で、健康食品の代名詞として日本人が一番最初に挙げるのは納豆だ。

ところでこの納豆を作っている納豆菌なんだが、驚異的な生命力と物凄い繁殖力を持っている。実験の結果、納豆菌は100度の高温やマイナス200度の低温、宇宙空間、胃液の中でも生き延びることができ、1個の納豆菌は16時間後には約40億個まで増殖可能ということが分かっている。

白神山地 – Shirakami Sanchi

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Japan currently hosts 26 World Heritage Sites, including Shirakami-Sanchi, a mountainous region spanning Aomori and Akita Prefectures. Recognized in 1993, Shirakami-Sanchi boasts vast primeval beech forests, among the largest untouched natural reserves globally. These ancient forests, free from modern development, provide sanctuary to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including the elusive black woodpecker and the Japanese serow, a designated natural monument.

白神山地は現在日本にある26の世界遺産の一つ。白神山地は青森県から秋田県にまたがる山地帯の総称。「人の影響をほとんど受けていない原生的なブナ天然林が世界最大級の規模で分布」として、1993年世界遺産に登録された。白神山地は幻の鳥と言われるクマゲラや天然記念物のニホンカモシカなどの保護区になっている。

Gold Ehōmaki

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The price of an ehōmaki made with gold seaweed is 12,800 yen. With the current strong dollar, this converts to approximately 83 dollars, lessening its impact. However, when the exchange rate was 100 yen to the dollar, 12,800 yen would have been 128 dollars. The one with sea urchin on it was from 2019 and cost 15,800 yen, which was around 145 dollars at the then-current exchange rate. Despite the rising costs, I wonder why the price of this particular ehōmaki has decreased…

お子様ランチ – Kid’s Lunch

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Family restaurants, and many other dining establishments, offer a dish called okosama lunch, or kid’s lunch. Despite being called a kid’s lunch, it is served at any time of the day. The tradition began in 1930, during the early Shōwa era (1926–1989), before WWII. The chef who created okosama lunch was a mountain climber, which inspired him to shape the rice like a mountain and decorate it with a flag on top. He hoped this meal would bring dreams and smiles to children during challenging times. Since then, the flag has become a hallmark of okosama lunch, symbolizing joy and adventure, at all restaurants that serve it. In recent years, some restaurants have started offering okosama lunch for adults as well. The photo below is an adult version of okosama lunch.

白湯 – Hot Water

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In November 2022, a renowned beverage company in Japan began selling bottled hot water at stores and vending machines. Around that time, drinking hot water became a new norm for many men and women in Japan. This health-conscious trend is believed to be inspired by principles from Indian alternative medicine. Research has shown that drinking hot water can improve sleep quality, boost metabolism, enhance immunity, and help alleviate dry skin, fatigue, and constipation.

Yamagata Beniō

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Yamagata Beniō (やまがた紅王) is a new brand of Japanese cherries from Yamagata Prefecture. They finally made their debut in June 2023. The distinguishing characteristic of Yamagata Beniou cherries is their size. They are huge, sweet, and visually appealing, ranging from 1 to 1.45 inches in size. The photo below shows a wooden box of 30 cherries priced at 30,000 yen (approximately $215 USD according to the current exchange market).

牧野富太郎 – Tomitaro Makino

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Tomitaro Makino (1862-1957) is known as the Father of Japanese Botany. Despite not graduating from elementary school, he earned a Doctor of Science degree. Makino discovered over 600 species and named over 1,000 new species and 1,500 new varieties of plants. Until his death at the age of 94, he traveled all over Japan creating botanical specimens. It is believed that he documented over 400,000 pages of specimens.

In the latter half of his life, Tomitaro visited various places in Japan to teach citizens the joy and attraction of plants. He treated people equally, from kids to the elderly. Some of these people sent him botanical specimens, sometimes resulting in new research. When scientists and the general public collaborate on research, it is called citizen science. Tomitaro is a pioneer of this concept.

After elementary school, Tomitaro taught himself and conducted his research independently throughout his life. Because he disliked placing importance on authority, he did not care much about degrees. However, due to the encouragement of those around him, he finally received his doctoral degree from the University of Tokyo in 1927 at the age of 65.

メロン – Melon

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Melons grow all year around in Japan, but the primary harvesting season is from May through July.  In a grocery store, melons can sell for as low as $5 apiece, but especially nice ones can cost $50~$200 and are often used as gifts.  In May, 2019 a pair of melons were sold for 5,000,000 yen (approx $45,500 USD).  These melons broke the record of the most expensive melon ever.  This year the same type of melons were sold for just 120,000 yen (approx $1100 USD) due to the coronavirus.

Hakone Utsugi

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Hakone Utsugi （ハコネウツギ）or Weigela Coraeensis is a flower that is found near beaches in Japan.  Its blooming season is May~June.  This flower is white at first, but after pollination it turns itself pink.  Because the insects that pollinate the flower see white better than pink, the white unpollinated flowers stand out and that increases their chance of getting pollinated.  Nature is amazing.  This flower’s Japanese name includes the word Hakone (a well-known resort area in Japan), but actually you don’t see many of these flowers in Hakone.