Japan Matters for America: Connecting Japanese and US Communities Over a Shared Love of Food

BY LILLIAN ROWLATT (Niigata 2003-2005)

Nothing brings people together like food. Food is so often intertwined with our fondest memories, bringing family and friends together around a table to share a meal. It also has a magical way of connecting us to the people who produced it, even if they’re oceans apart. Just one bite can take you to the land of the country that created it.

Being half-Japanese, I have always felt a bit like a Japanese ambassador, bridging the gap between my eastern heritage and western upbringing. Yet my fascination with Japan is shared by many others, even those without a Japanese background. People who have stumbled across an aspect of the culture that drew them in, and for many, that hook was the food. . .

About the Author

Lillian Hanako Rowlatt is a half-Japanese Canadian currently living in LA. She connects people to the food, cultures and traditions of Japan through her company, Kokoro Care Packages. She was an ALT on the JET Program from 2003-2005 in Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata-ken

This article is part of a guest-contributor partnership between the East-West Center in Washington and USJETAA in which former JET participants contribute articles relating to their experiences in Japan.