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Precis: " Food, Play, Business, and the Image of Japan in Itami Juzo's Tampopo" (2004) by Michael Ashkenazi

In his article, “Food, Play, Business, and the Image of Japan in Itami Juzo’s Tampopo” (2004), Michael Ashkenazi examines the portrayal of “Japaneseness” by director Itami Juzo through a chronological documentary of the changes, reconstruction and adaptation, both the physical and the service provided by a certain restaurant called “Tampopo”, as well as examining how Juzo depicts other establishments as well as interactions of the characters, and social issues through their relationship towards food. Ashkenazi briefly summarises the film’s narrative and introduces questions he wants to point out, such as “how and why was the selection of the Japanese food were such?” which becomes the framework of his argument in relating the Japanese identity through food culture and acquisition, and its influence or satirical note to the economical changes of the times. The article is written in clear and well-defined language and discussion that anyone can enjoy reading it. It is informative and was likely written for scholars of food culture, Japanese studies, and film studies.

(December 07, 2016)

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