ISTD 2018: Wabi-Sabi no Washoku
Brief - Food for Thought Awarded Merit and membership entry to the society Traditional Japanese food has roots dating back to 300 BC but it was not until the isolation period that lasted over 220 years that Japanese food evolved to become its own. Since the period ended, western influence has had a rippling effect on the way Japanese see their food. They combine their heritage with modern tastes to create delicious yet sometimes bizarre cuisine. Japan is a culture that is truly idiosyncratic and has the food to match it. This publication explored the subject of Japanese food from the traditional to the modern. From the cultures strict etiquette, traditional foods and it’s modern twists which are mixed with real anecdotes about Japanese cuisine. Designed as two contemporary books ‘Wabi’ and ‘Sabi’ in a Japanese style bound in a five hole noble bind. When put together, the name of the publication joins together to make ‘Wabi-Sabi no Washoku’ and translates into ‘The imperfect and transient nature of Japanese cuisine’. The term ‘Wabi-sabi’ is an ancient Japanese philosophy focused on accepting the imperfect and transient nature of life. I chose this term so each book in this publication contrasts and harmonises with one another, as well as sounding similar to the word ‘Wasabi’ bringing it full circle. The content is split between two books. ‘Wabi’ focuses on traditional etiquette. ‘Sabi’ focuses on the food itself and stories from the modern era, to give the reader a true understand of Japanese food culture.