• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.50
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• pp.197-224
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• 2018

Korea's Kimjang and Japan's Washoku were listed in the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Kimjang and Washoku not only have the meaning of a long tradition or national representative food. Additionally, UNESCO admitted the value of Kimjang and Washoku that allows members of society to share together and strengthen their solidarity through the use of it. And the identity of each nation is well represented in the Kimjang and Washoku effort. The Kimjang is managed by the Intangible Cultural Properties Department of the Cultural Heritage Administration. Likewise, the Washoku is managed by the Department of Washokusitsu of Japan's Agriculture Ministry. In regards to festivals, they are the most representative of Kimjang's contents in Korea. Kimjang can participate with a consensus of all people and must do it before the coming winter months. In this way, it is very suitable for the presentation of a festival. And there are many festivals related to Washoku in Japan, mainly manifested with local specialties. We have seen that Japan has many kinds of festivals, which encourages it to be called and known as the country of festivals. And Washoku is being fostered as the core content of the 'Cool Japan Strategy' because it has become world-renowned since it was listed as an intangible cultural heritage.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.152-167
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• 2018

Until recently, Japanese cuisine was known only for sushi and was still considered exotic outside the archipelago. However, today the number of specialized restaurants which serve other traditional foods is constantly increasing all over the world, making Japanese gastronomy one of the most influential. Japanese government has supported the promotion of national cuisine worldwide in different ways, making washoku (Japanese traditional cuisine) one of the main elements of Japan's soft power and cultural diplomacy. In this paper, I will analyse the connection between Japan's gastrodiplomacy, defined as the use of typical food and dishes as an instrument of soft power, and Japan's food security strategy. I will argue that the strategy of promotion of washoku worldwide is not a mere act of popularization of Japanese food but it is strictly related to the issue of the low self-sufficiency rate of the country, as the main objective of the government is the raise of food export, in order to foster agricultural production and improve self-sufficiency.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2021