Current location:travel >>
VOX POPULI: Manga artist exposes the juicy dynamics behind ‘oden’ factions
travel2717People have gathered around
IntroductionFactions are essentially about “hanging around together with buddies,” manga artist Sadao Shoji obse ...
Factions are essentially about “hanging around together with buddies,” manga artist Sadao Shoji observes in his essay.
Wherever people gather, factions are formed, be it in neighborhood interactions or workplace relationships in a company.
Shoji then takes his musing on factions to an unexpected realm, declaring, “Even the world of oden is composed of factions.” This leap into the seemingly unrelated topic of the traditional Japanese hot one-pot dish is quintessentially characteristic of Shoji’s narrative style.
Within the steaming confines of an oden pot, separated into small partitions, the dynamics of factions kick in. Tofu-based ingredients, like “ganmodoki” (fried tofu fritters) and “atsuage” (thick fried tofu), belong to what Shoji amusingly dubs the “tofu clique.”
In competition are the fish paste faction, represented by “chikuwa” (tube-shaped fish paste) and “satsuma-age” (fried fish cake).
Although “konnyaku” (jelly-like food made from konjac yam) and “shirataki” (konjac noodles) hail from the same origins, they seldom share a plate, hinting at an unexpected animosity between them.
Shoji delves into these observations with a tongue-in-cheek seriousness that stands in sharp contrast with the lightheartedness of the subject.
Readers of Shoji’s gastronomic essays do not expect to glean practical advice or culinary tips.
Instead, they just enjoy imagining how they would savor certain hot dishes with Shoji, eaten in a manner often described as “haf haf” in Japanese, and nod with a “fumu fumu” murmuring of approval to the intriguing nuances of his observations, and ultimately find themselves amused and utter a “fufu” smothered laugh.
This is the essence of what could be called the “Haf Fumu Fufu” principle—a sequence of tasting the joy of engaging with his hilarious writings on eating.
Shoji’s popular serial column, “Are Mo Kuitai, Kore Mo Kuitai” (Raring to eat that dish and this one, too) ran in the Shukan Asahi weekly magazine for 36 years, a testament to his enduring appeal.
As the magazine was discontinued, I felt disappointment and sadness at the end of enjoying his column. But it made a heartening comeback this year in The Asahi Shimbun weekend supplement “be.” Its third installment was published on Feb. 10.
The themes of the first two installments of the column, published biweekly, were “The Personality of ‘Anko’ Sweet Bean Paste” and “The Global Expansion of Oden.”
He playfully speculates that should oden gain international recognition, “ganmodoki” might be pronounced “gahn-moh-DOH-kee,” displaying his signature laid-back humor, to the joy of his readers.
According to a colleague in charge of the column, upon the revival of his long-beloved column, Shoji expressed an eagerness to explore more topics, saying, “There are still many things I want to write about (in this column).”
Shoji’s insatiable gastronomical appetite is simply awesome for an 86-year-old.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 11
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Idiom news portal”。http://saintpierreandmiquelon.tokosaranateknik.com/content-529e599465.html
Related articles
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
travelLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Yohan Ramírez from the New York Mets for ...
【travel】
Read moreSurvey reveals Australians' attitudes towards clean energy transition
travelCANBERRA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A vast majority of Australians are in favor of a fast or moderately-p ...
【travel】
Read moreTürkiye's opposition takes election lead in key cities
travelANKARA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), led in ...
【travel】
Read more
Popular articles
Latest articles
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Chile to recall ambassador from Venezuela for consultations
8 people confirmed dead after ship collision in south China
U.S. quietly signs off more bombs, fighter jets for Israel: U.S. media
Fresh heartache for cancer
FISU Games torch relay highlights global youths' determination to chase dreams
LINKS
- China strengthens crackdown on illegal fishing
- Back to countryside, new trend amid China's rural revitalization drive
- Stefan Frei makes 300th regular season appearance for Sounders in 0
- China shortens infectious disease reporting time to four hours
- China commits to establishing region
- China further streamlines mobile payments for foreigners
- Country star Morgan Wallen is seen for the FIRST time since his arrest as he steps out with ex
- Qinghai province activates development potential via featured industries
- 2024 Int'l Tourism Fair held in Madrid, Spain
- China's road logistics price index dips