和食（Washoku)

  Food has had a huge impact on my life so far. I have loved eating since I was a little, and no matter how bad my mood is, eating good food cures my mood. Even when I travel abroad, eating good food comes to the top of my list of importance. I believe that my love for food is greatly influenced by the food culture of Japan, the country where I was born and raised. Japan has a rich food culture, and many of its citizens are intensely interested in food. My country has a food culture called "Washoku." Washoku is a traditional Japanese food culture based on "respect for nature" that has been nurtured in Japan's unique climate and natural environment. In 2013, Japanese food was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

   Japanese food is a combination of "rice," "soup," "side dishes," and "pickled vegetables" which is called "一汁三菜." The main ingredient is rice, to which are added some soup and side dishes. For example, "一汁 ichijyu" refers to rice with one soup. A large side dish (usually meat or fish) and one or two smaller side dishes (side dishes) such as pickled daikon radish or boiled vegetables are called "二菜 nisai" or "三菜sanzai"). ) The combination of these dishes has been handed down for a long time, from the end of the Heian period to the present.

   Japan is also famous for its many fermented foods. Fermented foods are foods produced by microorganisms that decompose and break down foods. Soy sauce, miso, dried bonito flakes, natto (fermented soybeans), and pickles are all fermented foods that are eaten in Japan. Many foreigners do not like them, but I love them and sometimes want to eat them. I sometimes eat pasta and pizza at home, but mostly, it is Washoku, so even though I have been in the U.S. for almost two years now, I sometimes miss Japanese food. Many Japanese restaurants in the U.S. are owned by Chinese or Koreans, and their menus usually consist only of sushi and ramen. Therefore, I would be very happy if a Japanese restaurant owned by a Japanese person would open in Naperville.