Vegetarianism in Japan

[Mekugi]

I've ran into this topic recently And I wanted to address it here in hopes that folks would read it and understand it....or that it sinks in.

If you are a vegetarian coming Japan and believe that pork, fish, poultry eggs and dairy are vegetables...then you will have no problem. To most Japanese people...those items are considered part of a vegetarian diet...albeit they are served in smaller amounts. Dashi or bonito (fish) stock is the base for many sauces and soups.. and is used in many foods. Here, being vegetarian usually means you don't eat beef, lamb and goat. If you have a problem with this, you are going to have problems eating at restaurants and at people's houses.

Although Japan is Buddhist, and many Buddhists consider themselves "vegetarians," the above definition is usually applied.

Be aware!

[Rasputin]

Sounds like my idea of vegetarianism. Now if only they dropped the rice they'd be on to something

[TonyU]

What's wrong with rice? Rice is good!!!!!

[Mekugi]

Get this:
The story of the Yamakujira (mountain whale) and the Usagi:

...we had a dish called botan nabe ("peony pot"). The contents of the hotpot, however, had nothing to do with flowers; it was all kinds of vegetables, mushrooms — and thinly cut slices of wild boar meat. I became even more confused when the lovely kimono-clad lady who was kneeling beside our table and adding things to the pot told me that the slices of meat and fat she was so deftly handling with long chopsticks was known as "mountain whale." Later it was explained to me that about 1,500 years ago when Buddhist edicts came into Japan condemning the eating of four-legged animals, mountain folk renamed two of their favorite game animals to confuse the issue. One was the wild boar (inoshishi), whose meat and fat were somewhat close in color and texture to baleen whale meat, and which was renamed yamakujira (mountain whale). The other was the hare (usagi), which was re-designated as a bird. This, I have been told, was because of its large, winglike ears.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0080305cw.html


The Japanese counter system, which is complex to the point of being nonsensical, testifies to the re-classification of the rabbit. The counter "hiki" or "biki" which was used for fish and birds was lent for use with rabbits as well. Yet, most Japanese won't even think of eating hossenfeffer today (so yummy...).

[Rasputin]

What's wrong with rice? Rice is good!!!!!

[David Craik]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3112100.stm

[Mekugi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3112100.stm

"Her grandson Tsuyoshi Karauchi, who lives with her, told the BBC that sleeping was a favourite pastime....She has never smoked, he said, "but she did start drinking about 20 years ago in her 90s". "


Bahhh...in my day fish were vegetables.....

[David Craik]

As was rice.

[Don Roley]

The counter "hiki" or "biki" which was used for fish and birds was lent for use with rabbits as well.

Russ, don't you wish you could edit things on Budoseek the next morning?

[Mekugi]

Russ, don't you wish you could edit things on Budoseek the next morning?

Yeah yeah.......piki...biki....blahblahwoofwoof...

For the viewing audience:
Piki is another way to say "hiki" at the glottal stop after and number. Ex.: 1匹, ip-piki. 2匹, ni-hiki. 3匹, san-biki

Either that or Don is kicking me for being an over-editor....ya bastidge.

I'm going to email you about a British chap.....look for it my man!

-Russ

[Don Roley]

Either that or Don is kicking me for being an over-editor....ya bastidge.

Nope.

1匹 (Ippiki) and such is used for animals like dogs, cats, beavers, etc. "Wa" is used for birds and rabbits. Though my wife tells me that like "ain't" there are a lot of Japanese that do the logical thing and use hiki/piki/biki for rabbits even though it is not 'correct'.

I know you know this. You just had a hiccup in your thought process.

[Mekugi]

Nope.

1匹 (Ippiki) and such is used for animals like dogs, cats, beavers, etc. "Wa" is used for birds and rabbits. Though my wife tells me that like "ain't" there are a lot of Japanese that do the logical thing and use hiki/piki/biki for rabbits even though it is not 'correct'.

I know you know this. You just had a hiccup in your thought process.

Freaking heck, what was I thinking? Of course it's wing 羽。Eshhh.....good thing I have no hubris left...