The number five is a big part of Japanese tradition, and it comes through in a big way in the food. A traditional Japanese meal should evoke the number five in five different ways. With this in mind, consider the following on your next visit to our Bothell sushi restaurant and how they might apply to your dining experience:
The Five Senses: A meal should taste, look, and smell pleasing, your dishware and utensils should feel pleasing, and you should be dining in a place that offers pleasing sounds.
The Five Colors: White, black, green, red, and yellow are Japan’s five elemental colors. Incorporating all five into a meal is not just aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps assure that you have a balanced meal consisting of all the important food groups.
The Five Tastes: Japan counts five different taste sensations: bitter, sour, salt, sweet, and umami, which might be understood as “savory”.
The Five Preparations: Japanese food traditionally comes raw, simmered, fried, steamed, and roasted/grilled. A single meal consisting of all five of these has a great complexity.
The Five Attitudes: Japan largely adheres to a Buddhist philosophical approach to eating, in the form of these five phrases:
- I reflect on the work that went into bringing this meal to me.
- I reflect on my flaws, and whether or not I deserve this meal.
- Allow my mind to be unburdened by prejudices and greed.
- I take this food to maintain good health.
- I accept this food to help further my pursuit of enlightenment.