The Bento Advantage
Game: Russo-Japanese War (1904 – 1905) –
Japan Victorious – Created by Ruth Paget
Objective:
Analyze
the role of food in the Russo-Japanese War and Draw from its Lessons
Historical Background:
Japan
was the first Asian power to defeat a European power in the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904 – 1905 according to the Encyclopedia
Britannica.
Russia
had moved into Siberia, but still needed seaports at this time. Russia invaded northeastern China for
seaports, but then had to deal with Japan, an equally expansionist country.
Japan
defeated Russia on land in northeastern China and on sea. This victory of a small island nation against
the vast Russian Empire was extraordinary.
The victory established Japan as an imperial power and probably gave the
nation confidence to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor decades later to
begin World War II in the Pacific.
History
books deal with strategy, casualties, deaths, and sometimes weather. In this game, I would like players to analyze
the role of food to see if it might have been a decisive factor in the Japanese
victory over Russia.
Generals
have the responsibility for making sure troops and their families are fed to
make defensive forces strong and free of disease for readiness and morale. Spoiled food, for instance, can spread
disease and destabilize troops.
Generals
also have to think about food procurement if fighting in foreign lands. Food shipped from the homeland might spoil in
transport. Eating food available locally
has a better chance of not being spoiled.
Both
Japanese and Russian cuisines have dishes that resemble Chinese ones or that
use ingredients available in China.
What
may have made the difference in the Russo-Japanese War is the bento box lunch –
a sanitary and efficient way of serving large numbers of room temperature meals
made using local ingredients found in China.
Level 1: A Sample Bento
Box Lunch
Bentos
are served at room temperature, which saves money for storage. If metal bentos with lids and metal
chopsticks are used, you could make a bento with the following ingredients:
-1/2
bento box full of cooked rice
-steamed
vegetables such as broccoli divide the rice from the rest of bento contents. Whole cherry tomatoes could be placed among
the broccoli as well.
-pickled
vegetables take up ¼ of the bento.
Pickled plums (umeboshi) and pickled ginger would be nice additions to
pickled cucumbers and pickled cabbage
-the
savory addition – ¼ of the box could be slices of rolled omelet with vegetables
that are doused with oyster sauce, soy sauce, or tahini. Canned fish such as whole sardines or
mackerel sections could also be part of the savory section.
Level 2: Learn about
Japanese Food
The
bento books below describe modern bentos, both Japanese and Western while the
other Japanese food books provide ideas for food that could go in a bento:
-Bento
for Beginners: 60 Recipes for Easy Bento Box Lunches by Chika Ravitch
-The
Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go by Makiko Itoh
Other
Japanese food books with dishes borrowed from China in some cases are listed
below:
-The
Complete Tassajara Cookbook: Recipes,
Techniques, and Reflections from the Famed Zen Kitchen: Over 300 Vegetarian Recipes by Edward Espe
Brown
-Japan:
The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hichisu
-Japanese
Cooking: A Simple Art by Shizuo Tsuji
-The
Japanese Grill: From Classic Yakitori to
Steak, Seafood, and Vegetables by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat
-Japanese
Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Tempura, and More from the Streets and Kitchens
of Tokyo and Beyond by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat
-Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking by Masaharu Morimoto
-Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking by Masaharu Morimoto
-Ramen
Obsession: The Ultimate Bible for
Mastering Japanese Ramen by Naomi Imatome-Yun and Robin Donovan
-Sushi
Cookbook for Beginners by Kirsten Barton
-Tokyo
Cult Recipes by Maori Murata
-Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen by
Elizabeth Andoh
Level 2: Learn about
Russian Food
Much
of Russia is frozen tundra in winter yet they can feed their people when
logistics for food delivery function well.
The following books reflect a cuisine created in and for harsh winter
conditions:
-Classic
Russian Cooking: A Gift to Young
Housewives by Elena Molokhovets
-Festive
Ukrainian Cooking by Marta Pisetska Farley
Russians
are also Orthodox Christians and celebrate their holidays with food in similar
fashion to the Ukrainians.
-The
Food and Cooking of Russia: Includes
more than 200 Recipes by Lesley Chamberlain
-The
Russian Heritage Cookbook: A Culinary
Tradition Preserved in over 400 Authentic Recipes by Lynn Visson
Level 3: Learn about
Chinese Food
-All
Under Heaven: Recipes from the 35
Cuisines of China by Carolyn Phillips
-China: The Cookbook by Kei Lum Chan and Diora Fong
Chan
-The
Chinese Kitchen Garden: Growing Techniques and Family Recipes from a Classic
Cuisine by Wendy Kiang-Spray
-Chinese
Street Food by Howie Southworth
-Chinese
Takeout Cookbook by Lina Chang
-Complete
Chinese Cookbook by Ken Hom
-Cooking
South of the Clouds: Recipes and Stories
from China’s Yunnan Province by Georgia Freedman
-The
Dim Sum Field Guide by Carolyn Phillips
-The
Essential Wok Cookbook by Naomi Imatome-Yun
-Every
Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking by Fuschia Dunlop
-Fragrant
Harbor Taste: The New Chinese Cooking by Ken Hom
-The
Joy of Chinese Cooking by Doreen Yen Hung Fren
-Land
of Fish and Rice: Recipes from the
Culinary Heart of China by Fuchsia Dunlop
-Land
of Plenty by Fuschia Dunlp
-Mastering
the Art of Chinese Cooking by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo
-The
New Classic Chinese Cookbook by Mai Leung
-Phoenix
Claws and Jade Trees: Essential
Techniques of Authentic Chinese Cooking by Kian Lam Kho
-Revolutionary
Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan
Province by Fuchsia Dunlop
Level 4: Identify
Russian Foods Similar to Chinese Foods
Level 5: Identify
Japanese Foods Similar to Chinese Foods
Level 6: Create a Bento
that Reflects Your Heritage
-Read
You Eat What You Are: People, Culture, and Food Traditions by Thelma
Barer-Stein, PhD to set up a bento that meets dietary needs
Level 7: Make a
Japanese Bento
Level 8: Make a Chinese
Bento
Level 9: Make a Russian
Bento
Level 10: View Food as
Communication
-Read
The Food of China by E. N. Anderson, paying close attention to the food as
communication chapter
-Read
Japanese Society by Chie Nakane
Think
of what the bento symbolizes and write this up in a personal journal along with
the bento menus you created
Level 11: Consider
Resource Management
Think
of how to maximize your food resources at home to achieve no-waste status,
which also allows you to better manage your food bill.
Enjoy
learning about bentos, Japanese food, Chinese food, and Russian food.
Bento Created by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
