Cool Japan: Buddhist cuisine

■Cool Japan: Buddhist cuisine

NHK Cool Japan: "Shojin ryori" (vegetarian cuisine).

The biggest factor behind the worldwide increase in vegetarians and vegans is health consciousness.

Lifestyle-related diseases are becoming more serious, and more and more people are trying to improve their condition through diet.

Japanese Shojin ryori goes even further, being a strict vegetarian diet that not only avoids meat, fish and dairy products, but also spicy vegetables such as onions and garlic.

It is part of Buddhist training, but it has been rediscovered by people overseas and is now attracting attention.

"These days"

Since it originated from Buddhism, Shojin ryori cuisine is found in all Asian countries, but there are very few Shojin ryori restaurants that are open to non-monks, and this is rare in Japan.

Since ancient times, Japan has had a diet of one soup and one dish, with many vegetable-based meals, and it was only after the Meiji period that people began to eat meat, later than the West.

We use plain vegetables to create a deep flavor, which is why it's so delicious.

The important thing is that it's delicious. I think that's what's popular with health-conscious Westerners these days.

"Temple"

I'll enjoy having this.

This is a uniquely Japanese expression, and it means to be grateful for the life of the ingredients.

Not only meat and fish, but plants also have life. We should be grateful to eat them.

And shojin ryori is made with great care, all by hand.

This effort is an important time to give thanks for the ingredients, to think about the Buddha to whom we are offering them, and to think about the people who will be eating the food.

Shojin cuisine embodies more than just not eating meat or fish; it also embodies that spirit.

"ramen"

This is a restaurant that specializes in Shojin ramen. It's in my hometown, the home of rich ramen, and a highly competitive area.

Pork bones, chicken bones, and bonito stock, which are essential ingredients for ramen, cannot be used.

Only kelp and shiitake mushrooms can be used.

Ramen and shojin ryori are polar opposites.

that has led to more than 10 years of research.

Ramen is now popular worldwide, and is also popular among health-conscious vegetarians and vegans.

This multiplication of ingredients in Shojin Ramen is a revolution. I hope it spreads throughout the world.

Even for Japanese people, shojin ryori is an ancient food and is not commonly known.

If foreigners discover it, we will be able to rediscover it and it could lead to new evolution and development.

thank you.