Editor's Note: This review was originally published in
Seattle Book Review.
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Author Gil Asakawa
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With the mainstream popularity of ramen, sushi, teriyaki, and other Japanese food staples, it’s hard to imagine that Japanese cuisine has not always been as well-embraced in the U.S. In Tabemasho! Let’s Eat, Gil Asakawa serves up an engaging look at how Japanese food evolved and blended with the American palate. Every food chronicle is intertwined with heritage, culture, and history, even the unsavory parts. In discussing how attitudes about people and foods have changed over time, Asakawa delves into the tragic history of the incarceration of Americans of Japanese descent in the U.S. during World War II. From sukiyaki to tempura to donburi, adaptation and preservation of tradition are the themes that undergird the continuing story of Japanese American food.
Any book that starts with the proclamation “I’m a foodie” is bound to be filled with adventure. Tabemasho! Let’s Eat! does not disappoint. We learn about the history of supermarket sushi, as well as the best ramen spots in Tokyo and California. Asakawa does a great job drawing from his immediate family’s food experiences, offering the reader a peek into Japanese American life. And with a greater focus on healthier lifestyles and food choices, a love of Japanese food will only become more prevalent.
