Hungry Theologian

2009-05-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

Natto (納豆)is the Japanese breakfast of champions. Made from fermented soybeans, Natto is a great source of protein and according to some studies has many medical benefits. One Internet site (here) claims the following:

“Harvard University's 1989 research on 20,000 male American doctors concluded that one aspirin a day reduces heart failure due to blot clotting by 44 percent. However, recent research says that eating soybean products every day has the same effect. Aspirin tends to make blood easily soluble, and it is known to cause bleeding even from a healthy stomach. . . . According to a Japanese joint research by the Ministry of Health and Gifu Medical University on 1,242 male and 3,596 female subjects from Takayama City's 31, 000 residents, the more the subjects eat soybean products, the lower their cholesterol levels.”

There are many more supposed medical benefits such as preventing obesity, reducing the effects of aging, a possible prophylactic against Alzheimer's and cancer.

Although it is may be considered a Japanese dietary staple, there are regional likes and dislikes of its pungent and sticky nature. It is said that those from Kanto, Tohoku and Hokkaido tend to favor it, but those from Kansai and other areas do not like it much.

Although I was born in Kobe, (Hyougo Prefecture) which is in Kansai, I was raised mostly in the Kanto region and on the Island of Hokkaido. I crave it in the mornings and could have it as a snack if those around me would not mind. I have it on rice with a little daikon (Japanese radish) in the mornings, but like it best on freshly “pound” omochi (sticky rice cakes). I have had it in okonomiyaki (I will blog on this one at another time.) and it was delicious.

The origins of natto are not clear. Did it begin back in the Jōmon period in Japan or in China during the Zhou Dynasty? But these issues do not have to be solved to enjoy this healthy food.

I recommend it highly, if you ever have a chance to try it. . . . I once heard that people that like strong cheeses do not like it, but since I like both I tend not to believe such myths.

For further information check out the Wikipedia article: Nattō or the website called Natto.

Food is Heaven by Kim Chi-Ha

2009-03-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Food is heaven
As you can’t go to heaven by yourself
Food is to be shared

Food is heaven
As you see the stars in heaven together
Food is to be shared by everybody

When the food goes into a mouth
Heaven is worshipped in the mind

Food is heaven
Ah, ah, food is
To be shared by everybody

Tonki in Komagome

2009-03-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Tonki (とんき) in Komagome (駒込) is part of a chain of restaurants that makes the best tonkatsu in the Tokyo area. Their original store (本店) is nearby in Meguro (目黒). It is a major family treat to dine at the Komagome branch which is near Central Bible College, where we lived for many years. The main dishes include: 1) hirekatsu - pork tenderloin fried cutlet; 2) rousukatsu - pork loin fried cutlet and; 3) kushikatsu - pork and long onions deep fried as a kabob. These can be ordered as a la carte or as a set with tsukemono (Japanese pickles), miso soup, rice, cabbage with sliced tomatoes. You can ask for as much rice, miso soup and/or cabbage that you want.

1. Hirekatsu:

2. Rousukatsu:

3. Kushikatsu:

At the Tokyo-Genki blog there are several videos of the Meguro Tonki shop, while the chefs are cooking.