There's something fishy about that sushi: how Japan interprets the global sushi boom

Since the 1990s sushi has become a global product with a transnational market. Hybridised and localised sushi like California Rolls and Spider Rolls are now even being reverse-imported to Japan as 'genuine American sushi'. This article examines some attempts to re-nationalise global sushi,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Japan forum (Oxford, England) England), 2011-03, Vol.23 (1), p.99-121
Main Authors: Sakamoto, Rumi, Allen, Matthew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
California
Credibility
Culinary nationalism
cultural diplomacy
Culture
Diplomacy
Discourse
Food
Food habits
Food preparation
globalisation
Globalization
Japan
Markets
Methodology (Data Collection)
Nationalism
Ownership
Products
Self Esteem
Soft power
Sushi
U.S.A
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Summary:Since the 1990s sushi has become a global product with a transnational market. Hybridised and localised sushi like California Rolls and Spider Rolls are now even being reverse-imported to Japan as 'genuine American sushi'. This article examines some attempts to re-nationalise global sushi, both from the Japanese state and from the vernacular media. We argue that, while popular reporting on the 'overseas sushi boom' generates a sense of national pride over 'them' eating 'our' food, the state's position is a more strategic one. It operates with a clear motive of increasing sales of Japanese food products overseas, mobilising the image of authenticity for this specific purpose. Both state and popular expressions of culinary nationalism claim Japanese ownership of culture not only in its 'authentic' forms but in its multiple, creative, hybrid and fusion forms. By examining Japanese responses to foreigners consuming sushi, we hope to provide some insights into the relationship between food, national culture, authenticity and globalisation. A further objective is to understand Japan's culinary nationalism within the larger context of the 'soft power' and 'cultural diplomacy' discourse.
ISSN:0955-5803
1469-932X
DOI:10.1080/09555803.2011.580538