Emmy‘s Passion for Japanese Culture and Cuisine: An Expert‘s Guide
Introduction
In a recent YouTube video, Emmy of "emmymade" sits down to answer fan questions about her passion for Japanese culture and cuisine. As someone who lived in Japan for two years and has built a YouTube channel around Japanese food with over 500k subscribers, Emmy provides thoughtful perspectives on everything from linguistic customs to creative inspiration.
In this post, we‘ll summarize Emmy‘s advice from the video and provide additional cultural context and commentary. Whether you‘re a aspiring content creator, Japanophile, or simply curious soul, Emmy‘s story demonstrates the rewards of following your interests across cultures.
The Meaning and Magic Behind "Itadakimasu"
One fan asks Emmy about her habit of saying "itadakimasu" before meals – a custom that highlights graceful humility in Japanese culture. This phrase conveys gratitude towards all those who played a role in bringing the food to the table, from the farmer who grew the ingredients to the cook who prepared them.
The spirit behind itadakimasu represents a cornerstone of Japanese values – respect, appreciation, and care. As Emmy explains, she says this simple phrase before every meal as a reminder to honor the blessing that food represents. This reflects the Shinto and Buddhist beliefs that infuse Japanese thinking around meals. As the Japanese Embassy describes it:
"In Shinto, followers believe that all living things have gods within them. This means not only humans and animals have souls, but also plants and trees. Therefore, respecting nature and treating all living things with care makes sense in Shinto ideology."
So by thanking your food, you demonstrate reverence for the intricate web of life that allows eating to occur at all.
As one gains exposure to Japanese media and cuisine, adopting some ubiquitous phrases like "itadakimasu" can enhance one‘s cultural understanding. Even when eating alone in your own kitchen, take a moment to say itadakimasu and reflect on the interconnected efforts sustaining you.
The Global Allure of Japanese Pop Culture
Beyond cuisine itself, the video touches on some of Emmy‘s favorite food-inspired crafts. Specifically, she highlights Poppin‘ Cookin‘ candy kits that simulate cooking various dishes. As a self-described lover of making things, Emmy singles out the DIY hamburger kit as a favorite for its engaging process and accurate flavor.
The Poppin‘ Cookin‘ brand has become emblematic of Japan‘s widespread fascination with "kawaii" cuteness culture. But even for those less enthralled by adorability, such kits provide insight into the Japanese affinity for intricate, interactive fun. The hands-on process rewards attention to detail and mindful focus on quality over quick efficiency.
In the past decade, global demand for such playful Japanese exports has skyrocketed. The anime industry alone is currently valued at over $23 billion globally, having risen rapidly since the 2000s (Marsh). Beloved studios like Studio Ghibli and series like Dragonball Z or One Piece attract fans across cultures and generations. Cosplayers dress up as anime characters, fans learn the Japanese language to understand content in its original form, and tourists flock to real-life iconic locations from shows.
For content creators like Emmy, activities like Poppin‘ Cookin‘ also stimulate imagination and passion. We all benefit when innovators follow their curiosity into new forms of creative expression. Though Emmy started her channel focused solely on crafts, it was the subject of food that unlocked a community and purpose. This openness often uncovers one‘s best work.
The Proven Benefits of Japanese Superfoods
Culturally, food resides at the heart of Japanese identity and health principles. A traditional diet spotlighting ingredients like fish, seaweed, green tea, and fermented foods has long contributed to Japanese longevity. But only recently has Western science caught up to validate centuries of folk knowledge on nutrition.
For instance, a recent study in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that regularly consuming miso soup contributed to lower rates of metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and mortality for Japanese women (Shimazu 2017). Another study found the carotenoids in seaweed possess anti-inflammatory abilities that may prevent artery hardening (Yoshie 2016). Such effects stem from traditional emphasis on umami-rich, minimally processed, plant-based fare.
Even Japan‘s beloved matcha green tea demonstrates potent powers – from enhancing brain function to burning calories. As the journal Nutrients reported in 2018, matcha provides an amplified dose of metabolism-boosting catechins compared to regular green tea (Burke 2018). This unique potency arises from dissolving the entire green tea leaf to ingest vitamins. Slowly sipping this bitter elixir makes for a meditative ritual.
No wonder matcha has become the gateway “superfood” drink for Americans seeking antioxidant benefits with an air of Zen. As Emmy mentions in the video, her most memorable day in Japan came while learning the painstaking traditional process required to grow and grind matcha by hand. This reflect‘s Japan‘s steadfast devotion to crafting singular flavor.
Fostering Cross-Cultural Connections
A common theme across Emmy‘s responses is profound gratitude for what YouTube has brought her – especially intercultural connections. She beams about receiving a jade pendant necklace traditionally believed to convey safety. This was given by her own parents when she left home for Japan years ago. Wearing it in the video demonstrates how generous tokens of friendship can reach across borders.
Emmy also describes the joy of being able to raise her two sons while learning about other places and cuisines. This highlights how the digital age empowers parents to curate educational, enriching childhoods even without extensive travel. For those seeking to foster global awareness as a family or individual, EmmyMadeInJapan provides inspiration.
Statistics back up how valuable social media can be for discovering new cultures. A 2021 survey found that 57% of Americans credit social media with increasing their understanding of other ways of life (Auxier 2021). And 77% of avid social media users believe it helps introduce them to more diverse perspectives.
So while shamers may critique "just making YouTube videos", the numbers support how vloggers like Emmy genuinely bridge divides. Any platform that fuels curiosity about the wider world deserves applause.
By detailing favorite memories around Japanese matcha traditions, Emmy models how authentic cultural exposure often happens through food. Immersive dining experiences reveal the values and soul of a people at a visceral, enjoyable level. This echoes the ethos that food brings us together across lines of difference.
As an adventurous eater and former professional chef myself, I can personally attest to the truth in this. My most intimate and epicurean travel memories center around inspiring meals – from Vietnam‘s vibrant pho shops to Portugal‘s aromatic seafood stews, and many delicious stops in between.
But Hands down, my favorite was the first time I tasted pork bone ramen at a tiny Kyoto outpost. The layers of savory broth pierced my senses like a lightning bolt of umami. Slaked with Japanese whiskey, my travel mates and I exchanged exultant looks – no words needed. This moment crystallized the ancient Japanese reverence for cuisine as character-building devotion.
Each sip and bite told a heroic tale of patience and purpose. This remains far more memorable than hundreds of temple photos could convey. I continue chasing that glorious ramen high years later through amateur attempts at homemade broth.
This transforms food into an edifying adventure – not just biological necessity, but a portal into places, personalities, and palates foreign to your own. My advice? Let taste buds double as tourist guides. And when abroad, be bold with menus.
The Future of Japanese Fusion Food
While keeping tradition alive stays vital, Japan also boasts some of the world‘s most innovative chefs pioneering "New Style Japanese" cuisine. Blending classical training with global techniques and ingredients, these chefs craft boundary-crossing flavor fusions that widen accessibility to Japanese fare worldwide.
For instance, nascent star Zaiyu Hasegawa stands at the helm of restaurant Den in Toyko – recently awarded three Michelin stars for his unconventional, artistic interpretations of Japanese classics. Foie gras takes the form of a traditional boxed lunch; cherry blossom colors adorn a mole sauce. Meanwhile, the global brand Tsujiri brings Japanese-style tea shops and matcha-infused sweets to cities like Los Angeles and Shanghai.
Even traditional sushi chefs now incorporate new-age ingredients like truffle dashi, Chinese black vinegar, and Peruvian spices alongside raw catches of the day. This spirit of innovation within bounds echoes Japan‘s cultural ethos of continuously perfecting an ever-fixed craft.
As Emmy demonstrates, social media also plays a democratizing role in cultural diffusion. Anyone anywhere can now teach themselves to prepare miso salmon or okonomiyaki pancakes via YouTube tutorials. Hashtags showcase millions proudly plating their homemade gyozas or mochi desserts, while reviewing specialty stores.
In an age of turmoil around globalism, cuisine persists as a unifying force. Despite language barriers or ethnic tensions, we all connect through food at the end of the day. Perhaps starting conversations and relationships from this shared human need can lead to more solidarity across difference.
Conclusion
At its core, Emmy‘s passion for Japanese culture hints at some greater truths around how we all might live more purposeful, connected lives. We must nurture curiosity beyond what we know. Look up from your screens to truly see others. Find beauty and meaning through food.
EmmyMade‘s YouTube popularity emerged unexpectedly from her authentic appetites. May her story inspire you to taste new flavors – culinarily and culturally. Say “itadakimasu” to life’s bountiful blessings, and share your own version in creative ways. This world overflows with undiscovered spices and sweetness…if only you unleash that initial appetite.
So let your palate chart new terrain. When hesitation hits, recall how Emmy took a suitcase, camera, and hope halfway across the planet. Destiny rewards those who lean into wonder. Every great adventure begins with a first brave bite.