Japanese Fermented Food 日本の食文化と発酵食品【英文記事で英語学習】

• fermented：（形）発酵した

【例文】Like other fermented food such as kimchi, koji has many health benefits.
（キムチなどの他の発酵食品と同様、麹には健康上のメリットが数多くある。）

【引用元】What is koji?

• fermentation：（名）発酵

【例文】The Japanese startup, Fermenstation, aims to build a more circular society by utilizing unused resources with their fermentation technology.
（日本のスタートアップ企業であるファーメンステーションは、未利用資源と自社の発酵技術を活用し、さらなる循環型社会の構築を目指している。）

【引用元】How Japan integrates circular rice farming into fashion

Preserved foods are foods that can be left at room temperature for an extended period of time and still be eaten, and they exist in all regions. Preserved foods can last longer by drying them, using salt, sugar and vinegar, or soaking them in oil or alcohol.

Among these, fermentation is the most familiar to the Japanese. For example, fermented foods such as soy sauce, miso, mirin and dried bonito flakes are essential to traditional Japanese cuisine as “umami.” Other examples include natto, sake and even “menma” (pickled bamboo shoots) found in ramen noodles. In Japan, the oldest fermented food is said to be “pickled gourd”, left over from the peak of the Nara Period (729-749).

“JapaneseCooking101” is an YouTube channel that introduces a variety of Japanese home cooking. Miso is a fermented food that is an essential part of Japanese meal and has many health benefits. This video introduces how to make miso in an easy-to-understand way, so you can learn it from your home.

Experiencing traditional fermented food making

The guesthouse SHUBOU is located on the premises of a traditional sake brewery that has been in operation since the Edo period. Here, visitors can experience making fermented ingredients using koji, the raw material used to make sake. This facility is recommended for those who want to learn about fermentation while having fun together.

The word, “hakko,” means “fermentation” in Japanese. HAKKO Department is the store where you can find everything about fermentation, including unique fermented foods, ingredients and alcoholic beverages from all over the world. The physical store is located in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, and you can also purchase fermented foods through their online store.

Preserved foods contain the wisdom of our ancestors in stockpiling food and are useful in times of food shortages. It also includes the knowledge of making full use of nature’s bounty, for example, using up all the bones and organs of fish. Therefore, the wisdom of our ancestors is of great value to be passed on to future generations from the perspective of sustainability.

1. Preserved foods are foods that can be kept at room temperature, and only exist in Japan. True or False?
2. It is said that the oldest fermented food in Japan is “pickled gourd” from Nara period. True or False?
3. People can reduce the amount of food waste, taking full advantage of preserved food. True or False?

※正解は記事最下部へ

1. False
   室温で長期保存が可能な食品は、日本に限らずあらゆる地域に存在します。
2. True
   文献上の日本最古の発酵食品は、奈良時代の“pickled gourd（瓜の塩漬け）”と言われています。
3. True
   保存食を作る際は、魚の骨や内臓なども余すことなく利用が可能です。