Seasonal Food: Chestnut
November 27, 2015Here is a Japanese traditional poem, Tanka, compiled in Manyoshu
Vol.5-802 composed by Yamanoueno Okura.
"Uri hameba Kodomowo Omooyu, Kuri hameba Mashite Shinohayu."
Interpretation: Whenever I eat gourd, I remember my children. Whenever
I eat chestnuts, I dearly remember my children.
As autumn progresses, it is now the season we can enjoy the autumn
harvest. The big and yellowy Japan's chestnut has a strong sweet taste
and is good for being boiled to eat. Hot and sweet chestnut, this well
known autumn food adds extra joy on the Japanese tables when weather
is getting cold. From the tanka above, we can see that chestnut and
gourd were Japanese children's favourite foods in the Manyo period.
Read the full article:
A nut which leads to victory: Chestnut
Translation by: Hitomi Kochi, reviewed by Chan Yee Ting
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