Wa-shoku: Beyond Sushi

Wa-shoku: Beyond Sushi is a 2015 immersive and visually stunning documentary that explores the splendid world of traditional Japanese cuisine. This finely crafted film brings together key figures from the field of Japanese gastronomy, including Tyson Cole, Esther de Rio, and Isao Hatano, who provide their singular insights into the rich, multi-layered aspects of Japanese cuisine known as Wa-shoku.

Directed by Junichi Suzuki, the film vividly showcases the philosophy, heritage, and techniques behind Japanese culinary culture, moving beyond the confines of sushi which is most commonly associated with Japanese gastronomy worldwide. The term 'Wa-shoku' translates as 'harmony of food', and the film takes viewers on an exquisite journey through Japan's historic culinary tradition, demonstrating how harmony is at the heart of Japanese cooking.

The film opens with an exploration of what Wa-shoku really means, featuring Olympian cookery virtuosos such as Tyson Cole - the first non-Japanese sushi chef to win the James Beard award for 'Best Chef' - and Isao Hatano, who has spent 40 years mastering the art of Japanese cuisine at his successful Tokyo restaurant. These culinary experts, among others, weave narratives of personal experiences and stories that created the landscape for their careers while interacting with their environment to produce a delectable variety of dishes that exemplify Japanese culinary traditions.

Also featured in the film is Esther de Rio, the owner of an enchanting Kyoto-style Japanese paper lantern shop, who offers an alternative perspective on Japanese culture and its intrinsic ties to cuisine. Her detailed understanding and appreciation of Japan's cultural aesthetics provide additional depth and understandings of the links between the presentation of Japanese food and traditional art forms and crafts.

Fluent in intricate sushi-making techniques and other traditional Japanese culinary arts, these seasoned professionals unlock a different dimension to the viewer's perception of Japanese gastronomy. They conjointly shed light on how Japanese cuisine reflects the country’s distinctive seasons and local characteristics, introducing viewers to a variety of unique ingredients and the exceptional people who cultivate them.

The narrative is elaborately blended with mesmerizing visuals that capture the precise, almost meditative process of preparation behind each dish. From the exacting knife skills required to prepare delicate sushi to the slow-cooked savory broths and complex flavors of regional specialties, 'Wa-shoku: Beyond Sushi' honors the transformative power of simplicity, freshness, and seasonality in Japanese cuisine.

One striking aspect of the film is its exploration of the intrinsic link between the seasons and the ingredients used in Japanese cooking. As the documentary unfolds, viewers are taught how seasonal and local produce defines not only the taste and presentation of the dishes but also their symbolic meaning and cultural context. It celebrates diverse, timeless culinary traditions that have been maintained for generations while also exploring the ongoing challenge of maintaining these traditions in increasingly globalized food markets.

The director's deft hand guides us through bustling markets and serene gastronomical preparations in famous restaurants. It creates a stunning visual feast that compliments the in-depth conversations and interviews with leading figures of Japanese cuisine.

Wa-shoku: Beyond Sushi eventually broadens its view to consider the influence of traditional Japanese cuisine beyond Japan, looking at the global sushi phenomenon and exploring the ways in which the philosophy and aesthetics of Wa-shoku have filtered into international understanding of Japanese culture and cooking.

The film is more than just a chronicle of Japanese food. It provides illumination, education, and food for thought. By its conclusion, the viewer has gained a profound understanding of the Japanese relationship with food and has perhaps even found new ways to think about their own culinary traditions and habits.

So for the uninitiated, 'Wa-shoku: Beyond Sushi' is an appetite-whetting introduction to traditional Japanese cuisine. But even for self-proclaimed sushi experts, this film will open up new vistas, proving that Wa-shoku extends not only beyond sushi but beyond the kitchen, with its influence felt throughout Japanese daily life and culture. The combination of mesmerizing visuals, personal narratives, historical insights, and a profound understanding of Japanese culinary culture makes this a must-see film for anyone obsessed with food and culture.