Browsing by Subject "http://www.yso.fi/onto/yso/p29084"

This thesis examines the depictions of food, cooking and eating practices, as well as food consumption in Japanese cinema. It employs a multidisciplinary approach that combines cultural studies, food studies, and film studies, focusing on the analysis and comparison of two Japanese films, The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice (Ochazuke no aji, 1952, Japan, dir. Yasujirō Ozu) and Tampopo (Tanpopo, 1985, Japan, dir. Jūzō Itami). The aim is to understand the sociocultural, economic, and political changes that took place in Japan between the 1950s and the 1980s. Upon analysis, it was discovered that these films utilise food from diverse angles to comment on various aspects of Japanese society. The comparison of the two films revealed the remarkable pace at which Japan developed into an immensely consumerist society and major economic power. A notable aspect of conveying this message involved depicting changes in the urban restaurant culture and eating habits. The main theme that emerged from the material can be summarised as the changing values and interpersonal relationships in post-war Japan. A secondary objective of this research was also to contribute to the study of food in film and demonstrate how depictions of food can serve as valuable research material for both film studies and cultural studies. The findings affirm that food possesses a strong representational, metaphoric, and narrative power, and can be used as a tool to discuss a variety of socially and culturally important topics. The thesis provides a unique perspective that is grounded in Asian studies, as it analyses two Japanese films, presents a historical survey of Japanese food films in the literature review, as well as utilises Japanese sources for research.