Japan hopes UNESCO cultural heritage designation will help save its traditional cuisine
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The United Nations cultural organization has added traditional Japanese food to its cultural heritage list, making it only the second national cuisine to receive the prized designation.
A UNESCO committee announced the decision Wednesday at a meeting in Azerbaijan.
Previously only French cooking had been distinguished as a national culinary tradition. UNESCO has also recognized specific dishes from Mexico and Turkey, and added the Mediterranean diet — the tradition of sharing food and eating together — at this week's meeting.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Known as "washoku," Japan's traditional cooking embraces seasonal ingredients, a unique taste and a style of eating steeped in centuries of tradition.
Japan hopes that UNESCO recognition will both send a global message and boost efforts to save washoku at home.
Purists fear that Japanese are turning away from the often time-consuming traditional cooking, as fast food and western cuisine become more popular and people lead busier lives.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Masanori Aoyagi, the commissioner of Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency, told the UNESCO committee that washoku gives Japanese a feeling of social cohesion. He said that it's low-calorie and healthy, but quipped that it doesn't work in his case, because "I take always double portions."