Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen
004 4 This book is great ! Not only does it make sense when you read the stats about why Japanese women seem to beat the fat and look so good but it is really easy to learn how to do it too without much fuss or expense . Love the recipes . You can buy the book and start cooking that night . This food really is different than the neighborhood Japanese place - you will love it . I wish there was a 2nd edition !
034 4 Folowing this way of eating and using japanese portions I have lost 25 pounds in a little over a month , I am so excited to be able to have food that is delicous and healthy , and not only that but its an adventure in cooking . warning - without a good asian market nearby this can be hard to do .
029 4 Ms . Moriyama takes reader into her childhood and the healthly Japanese lifestyle during the first half of her book . The second half offers readers how to add just small amounts of healthy foods into thier western eating habits without starving in the process . I enjoyed reading this book - a good tip I picked up was to add brown rice to meals - even my kids like rather than some other startchy veggies.Very good tips on brewing green tea as well.Recommend for someone wanting to add something different to thier diets .
040 4 This book has fine dieting advice ( small portions , lots of veggies and complex carbs ) , and is a fun read . That being said , the recipes are not as advertised . Use the recipes and advice in this book for inspiration , and then find recipes to USE elsewhere .
060 4 This book is full of great history , advice and delicious recipes that are easy to make . Its worth checking out .
036 4 This author speaks well of the importance of eating healthy yet practical and tasty . With much attention being given to Healthy eating these days , it would be good to venture into the area the Japaneese have gone , and for a number of years , in fact , they dont have the health problems that face many because there diet isnt loaded with fats , sugars , yet the foods are tasty . It has been noted also , they tend to live longer , so that says much for the authors love of her Moms cooking the Japaneese way , I highly recommend this book as we search for new ways of eating , the healthy way .
030 4 Although some of the writing seemed sophmoric I felt that the general idea was a good one . It is fun to try to cook healthier and incorporate one's love for japanese foods . The recipes are not difficult however finding some of the ingredients are a challange . Sometimes it is easier to buy ingredients online-like the rice oil instead of trying to run all over town . We can all use a little help in changing our daily diets . The book is also an easy read .
031 4 I was not totally impressed with this book . I lived in Japan when I was younger , and I was looking forward to getting some good recipies and good advice on how to eat as the Japanese do . This book does offer recipies and general advice , but the writing is almost childish and even repetetive . I get the feeling this book was thrown together to jump on the bandwagon of similar books , and I felt the language was a bit too simple to be an adult's book . I am glad I read it , but I would advise borrowing it from the library , not buying it .
042 4 I thought this book would share secrets to health & longevity by the practices of Japanese women . It is basically a cook book and not a good one at that . I couldn't even finish it . Mostly the author reminisces about her childhood diet .
049 4 I have read this book and it is quite a book on diet . We as Americans view diet as a necessity . This book views diet as a way to enjoy life . I think I needed that perspective because I hate dieting . I also don't look at food as a way to nourish myself and to fix healthy foods . I see food as something I have to do , so I may as well make it fast and eat it just as fast . This book gives ideas on how to fix the food , present it and to serve it . I really enjoyed the book very much and will continue to use it , I am sure for years to come .
057 4 I put this book out for a garage sale recently , because after reading it once , I found no reason to keep it . I have other Japanese cookbooks that have the same recipes . I have other books that give more information about Japanese culture and culinary history . The book is mostly self-promotion with very few recipes .
062 4 This book was . . . okay . The writing style tends to be a bit text-booky ; the author probably could have gotten the same points across in half the amount of pages . There are some interesting bits of history and some anecdotes , as well as plenty of healthy Japanese recipes , but I didn't really learn much about living a healthy lifestyle . Instead , I suggest buying French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano , which is a beautifully written and inspirational book that will keep you intrigued and make you want to change the way you live your life .
067 4 I enjoyed this book with Naomi's anticdotes about her mother's kitchen in Japan , and some recipes as well , but it would have been nice to know other things like a typical day in Japan , Japanese beauty secrets , and so on . I have other Japanese cookbooks with better recipes and information , so I wasn't really looking for another cookbook . So , if Japanese women don't age as fast as Western women , I realize it's partly attributed to the diet , but I'm sure they have some beauty secrets as well . Maybe Naomi might want to add some of these in her next book .
068 4 Can I just say that Japanese women do get old , and not as fat as in other countries , but they do not sustain the figure of their youth . Immediately after marriage and after the desired number kids they usual turn into a obasan . Live life as it happens , and accept what you are .
063 4 The author offers a one-dimensional opinion as to why Japanese women are thin . The traditional Japanese diet is only part of the answer . Cultural pressures in Japan to be thin are overwhelming . If you live in Japan and gain so much as one kilogram , you'll hear about it before the needle on your scale can even register it . Both men and women watch every bite of food a woman eats in public . At the workplace eyes will roll knowingly if a woman eats four small rice balls for lunch . Conversely , women are chided or quized about being on a diet if they consume only two rice balls . The incidents of eating disorders is skyrocketing in Japan . Underlying everything is a feeling of superiority about being thinner and more youthful than people of other countries and cultures . Witness the title of the book itself . The title alone rates a zero in my mind .
052 4 as one who didn't pay much attention to my diet before reading this book , I found it quite interesting . Even if you're not a sushi freak , you'll learn a great deal . Recommended !
my review of FWDGF was favorable in as much as it underlines the need to return to a real slow food way eating rather than pre-packaged , chemically enhanced non / fast-food junk ) However , where Mireille barefacedly underlines her anthem of quality over quantity by compelling her readers to nosh on pricey triple creams , imbibe expensive champagne by Veuve Clicquot - - - - the company for which she works - - - and with these offers vague advise about love being a natural slimming agent , Naomi , just gives us a straight shot of brown-rice samurai wisdom backed by enough scientific sources and academic studies that keeps eating plain , simple , and a step above common-sense . . In a way , she kamikazes the competition into the Maginot line by providing more than 30 economical recipes , menu plans , and portion control with internet ingredient URLs provided for easy access to Japanese market staples . The biggest out of pocket expense , besides the price of the book , could be replacing your present dishes with the small and elegant place settings preferred by Naomi's countrymen .
But will the idea of becoming like the mysterious doll-like Japanese geisha succeed in capturing the attention of an American audience with the same whole-hearted obsession of morphing oneself into a Gitane smoking , cigarette skirted French demoiselle ?
Like FWDGF , JWDGOOF abounds with little vignettes about the respective author's childhood comfort and food experiences . While the focus remains similar to that of FWDGF , namely real seasonal food , quality over quantity , no snacking , smaller portions , social eating and the very Eastern contemplation of the food's beauty and nutrition , the author relies on the tradition provided by her mother , an obviously clever woman who presents fruit carved like flowers for dessert instead of a mountain of cake and cookies like her American counterpart ;
On a purely technical level , tradition for Naomi and her family consists of a food wheel of seven spokes : fish ( her description of the Tokyo fish market with its sights and smell is a fish-lover's heaven ) , vegetables ( an emphasis is on sea vegetables ; no canned or frozen here except for edamame ) , rice ( brown preferred ) , soy ( no processed stuff here , only tofu , miso , beans and sauce ) , noodles ( soba , udon , ramen and somen ) , tea ( types and preparations are provided ) and fruit . Note the obvious exclusion of dairy - - - full fatted or otherwise , - - - - bread and flours . Beef and chicken are used as condiments rather than main entrees . That's not to say that Naomi and husband Billy don't indulge in the occasional bagel or pizza binge ; however their main nourishment takes place in Naomi's New York facsimile of her mother's Tokyo kitchen .
All in all , if there is a contest in the war of the dieting worlds , I doubt that JWDGOOF will win in spite of its right-on message and clearly stated facts . Unfortunately , as svelte and vivacious as Ms . Moriyama is , there is something good or bad about the French stereotype that utterly captivates Americans . Check out all the books on Amazon , com that feeds into this desire for sophistication French-style .
That said , don't discount this book . Although , I would have liked Ms Moriyama to address the issue of menopause and diet and provide a Japanese food pyramid , as a utilitarian manual , the book is a good buy for the money . It's got everything on its side , science , history , and how-to instructions on how to prepare Japanese staples that are unfamiliar to the typical American . I am confident that like Naomi's non-Japanese husband , you will find the pounds melting off by following her centuries-old secrets . Recommended as a lethal weapon in your real food arsenal against weight gain .
001 4 Well , the gauntlet has been thrown .
In the wake of Mireille Guiliano's runaway best seller , French Women Don't Get Fat and its common sense nudge urging dieters and just plain folk in general to look back to tradition rather than seek out convenience to buttress the pillars of your culinary and nutritional foundation , Naomi Moriyama with her husband William Doyle fire back with enough fact , statistics , recipes , menus and history to send Western Civilization back to the Dark Ages .
Naomi Moriyama , a chic and slim 45 year old marketing consultant , doubles as a powerhouse of energy and vitality as she meters out her rebuttal to Mme . Guiliano in a righteous defensive strike of her culture's dietary habits and staples worthy of any 10th century shogun - - - i.e . Japanese women live on average to age 85 ; only a birdlike 3% are deemed obese ) And she does this with a straightforward panache that puts all of Mireille's pandering of her French ancestry to shame . ( Note : my review of FWDGF was favorable in as much as it underlines the need to return to a real slow food way eating rather than pre-packaged , chemically enhanced non / fast-food junk ) However , where Mireille barefacedly underlines her anthem of quality over quantity by compelling her readers to nosh on pricey triple creams , imbibe expensive champagne by Veuve Clicquot - - - - the company for which she works - - - and with these offers vague advise about love being a natural slimming agent , Naomi , just gives us a straight shot of brown-rice samurai wisdom backed by enough scientific sources and academic studies that keeps eating plain , simple , and a step above common-sense . . In a way , she kamikazes the competition into the Maginot line by providing more than 30 economical recipes , menu plans , and portion control with internet ingredient URLs provided for easy access to Japanese market staples . The biggest out of pocket expense , besides the price of the book , could be replacing your present dishes with the small and elegant place settings preferred by Naomi's countrymen .
But will the idea of becoming like the mysterious doll-like Japanese geisha succeed in capturing the attention of an American audience with the same whole-hearted obsession of morphing oneself into a Gitane smoking , cigarette skirted French demoiselle ?
Like FWDGF , JWDGOOF abounds with little vignettes about the respective author's childhood comfort and food experiences . While the focus remains similar to that of FWDGF , namely real seasonal food , quality over quantity , no snacking , smaller portions , social eating and the very Eastern contemplation of the food's beauty and nutrition , the author relies on the tradition provided by her mother , an obviously clever woman who presents fruit carved like flowers for dessert instead of a mountain of cake and cookies like her American counterpart ;
On a purely technical level , tradition for Naomi and her family consists of a food wheel of seven spokes : fish ( her description of the Tokyo fish market with its sights and smell is a fish-lover's heaven ) , vegetables ( an emphasis is on sea vegetables ; no canned or frozen here except for edamame ) , rice ( brown preferred ) , soy ( no processed stuff here , only tofu , miso , beans and sauce ) , noodles ( soba , udon , ramen and somen ) , tea ( types and preparations are provided ) and fruit . Note the obvious exclusion of dairy - - - full fatted or otherwise , - - - - bread and flours . Beef and chicken are used as condiments rather than main entrees . That's not to say that Naomi and husband Billy don't indulge in the occasional bagel or pizza binge ; however their main nourishment takes place in Naomi's New York facsimile of her mother's Tokyo kitchen .
All in all , if there is a contest in the war of the dieting worlds , I doubt that JWDGOOF will win in spite of its right-on message and clearly stated facts . Unfortunately , as svelte and vivacious as Ms . Moriyama is , there is something good or bad about the French stereotype that utterly captivates Americans . Check out all the books on Amazon , com that feeds into this desire for sophistication French-style .
That said , don't discount this book . Although , I would have liked Ms Moriyama to address the issue of menopause and diet and provide a Japanese food pyramid , as a utilitarian manual , the book is a good buy for the money . It's got everything on its side , science , history , and how-to instructions on how to prepare Japanese staples that are unfamiliar to the typical American . I am confident that like Naomi's non-Japanese husband , you will find the pounds melting off by following her centuries-old secrets . Recommended as a lethal weapon in your real food arsenal against weight gain .
002 4 I read this book on a whim because of the funny title , but I must say , I am impressed with the simplicity , straightforwardness , and great recipes . The guidelines give you choice and clear direction , and after following them myself for just a few days , I can tell the difference in I how feel after every meal . I'm sure after incorporating this book into my lifestyle , I'll notice physical changes too .
Kudos to the author Moriyama for her well laid out and researched book !
003 4 This was a great read ! The author uses beautiful , nostalgic and descriptive language while recounting her memories of growing up with Japanese food . Both her mother's kitchen and her grandparent's country farm are vividly described with colorful images of a veritable paradise of fresh food . Although the author states she lives in New York today , Japan looks to be a pearl in her memory .
The bulk of the chapters speak about the author's personal food experiences , along with Japanese food history and legend . I've never read a cookbook that had only one or a few recipes at the end of every chapter - it reads more like a novel than a cookbook . The only problem I had with the book was that towards the end it seemed a little too full of nationalistic pride . Other than that , I really enjoyed reading this book .
Other reviewers often compare this book to one I haven't read , French Women Don't Get Fat . That must be a great book , because this one is SO interesting . Not sure why everyone complains about this one being a copycat , since the author honestly states in the book that the title of that book inspired her to write this one .
005 4 I keep finding myself referring this book to family and friends , even my sister who is studying Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture . It reads equal parts novel , supporting research , cooking prep and easy to follow recipes .
As a busy professional in quest of eating well for both health and optimal energy , I find the book offers guidance and specific recipes to achieve this on a day to day level . Already I have incorporated the eat until 80% full philosophy , am making conscious choices when ordering out to include more fish ( especially at lunch ) , and at home use smaller plates to reduce portion size and enjoy the art of the fresh food in front of me .
Even though its only been a couple of weeks , I feel more confident in my food choices . I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their health , energy and ultimately their physique .
006 4 I lived in Japan for close to 10 years . In Tokyo . Mine is an unscientific observation .
The diet in this book is a stereotypical Japanese diet , one that most naive Americans and others think the Japanese eat .
I lived with a number of Japanese female roommates . The way they eat in public ( picky and delicate ) is nothing like the way they eat at home ( they could get in a contest with a vacuum cleaner and win ) . I saw three of them down a large bag of cookies in 3 minutes flat . It was gone by the time I got back from the bathroom .
Japanese women are very cognizant of the way they are seen in public , and will also go to extremes to lose weight and stay underweight . I used to think that the popularity of Comtrex , a type of milky looking mineral water from France , was due to health concerns . I found out that young Japanese women take it because it has laxative qualities . Other popular diet aids have been nata de coco , a colorless , calorie-free jelly made from coconuts , and water pills . The water pill thing got so out of control that at some point there was an epidemic of gout among young Japanese females , and pharmacies quit selling these pills to them .
As for green tea as a diet aid - funny thing , the Japanese don't drink THAT much green tea ( except at the office ) and not one of them ever told me it was a diet aid . I was told very often by the Japanese , however , that oolong tea was the secret to weight loss . Oolong is a popular diet aid in Japan . Green tea went for a long time unmentioned .
Beer should be listed as a major food group in the standard Japanese diet , considering the level of consumption . Popular dishes are curry rice - a football sized pile of rice with curry sauce and little bits of meat ; ramen - which is usually high fat and loaded with msg ; pizza toast - a very thick slice of white bread with pizza sauce and some veggies ; Tonkatsu or chicken katsu - deep fried and breaded ( with panko ) pork or chicken cutlet ; hamburger steak ; spaghetti ; and certainly the ubiquitous white rice three times a day . I was told by some school children there that the brown rice I preferred to eat was for cattle .
A major cause of house fires in Japan is the well-used deep fat fryer , a standard article in most kitchens . This is used to deep fry shrimp , croquettes , oysters , tonkatsu and tempura , among other items .
The Japanese diet changed with modernization and exposure to western culture , but not always in a bad way . Around the late 1800 ' s to early 1900 ' s , the average Japanese lived on little but rice and some pickled vegetables , and perhaps some fish if it could be gotten . Consequently , the life span was apparently not any better than the rest of the world - I once read an old Japanese fairy tale with a picture of two elderly people with long flowing white hair , and they were supposed to be in their 40 ' s , according to the story .
Since the Japanese contact with the west , the amount of protein in the diet has gradually increased . This was in part due to agricultural reforms imposed by the US . The increase in protein in the diet over the years has not only lengthened the lifespan of the Japanese , but has made more than a few of the younger people much taller than their elders . So a slightly westernized diet has not been an entirely bad thing .
The main difference in the Japanese diet ( as well as the Chinese , Korean , Thai and Vietnamese ) compared to the American is the absence of the huge amounts of sugar that Americans consume . This really is the secret . Most Asian sweets , no matter if they are traditional or commercially made candy or cookies , have a low sugar content compared to their American counterparts . Asians in general do not have a sweet tooth . Often , they cannot stand the super sweet foods that Americans consume , and therein lies the main difference .
Many in Japan , once they reach middle age , suffer from middle age spread , the women in particular can start looking square or chunky . There was a Japanese comic strip called Obatarian ( rough translation : Aunt-Zillah ) which lampooned this type of Japanese middle aged woman . This may simply be due to increasing insulin resistance because of age . Beer drinking and an over consumption of carbohydrates doesn't help much here .
The concentration of super-elderly people in Japan tends to center in Okinawa , which has a somewhat different diet - bitter melon being a part of it . Bitter melon keeps blood sugar levels steady , which adds to the longevity factor . The small village in central Japan that had a great deal of active elderly was noted to be a place where people consumed vegetables ( grown fresh in their gardens ) and did not consume much or any rice .
If you are a major consumer of fast food and have a sugar jones , any diet that emphasizes low sugar , lean protein and fresh vegetables will probably be a major improvement and you will no doubt see an improvement in your health from the change .
This book , however , is riding on the coat tails of the French Women Don't Get Fat diet , which is nothing but another low sugar , low cal option based on more myth .
007 4 I really enjoyed this book , though I prefer French Women Don't Get Fat simply because I personally like French / Western food more the Japanese Eastern food . I found a lot of the ingredients in this book unfamiliar and difficult to find . I also find the French personality / lifestyle more pleasurable than the Japanese lifestyle . Both books , if you follow the plans , will lead to weight loss and longer life . Clearly , Japan has a much lower rate of obesity than the US and the Japanese people live longer lives . This cannot be only due to genetics because it's changing ! As Japan adopts Western fast food eating styles and foods they are slowing gaining weight and their life expectancy will go down with it . There are , of course , exceptions to every rule , but despite the exceptions and what we Americans tell ourselves , fat people ( I'm fat too , by the way ! ) aren't as healthy and don't live as long . This is why I'm losing weight . I didn't find this book ( or the French one ) condescending or superior in any way . The author is not saying Japanese people are better , but , rather , that the traditional diet of Japan is a healthy one , so if you're looking for a healthy lifestyle that includes tasty , pleasurable food , you may like to try it . Incidentally , the traditional diets of most cultures ( including American cultures ) are much healthier than what we eat in America today . I'd like to see more books like this so we have a choice depending on our own personal tastes : Italian Women , Spanish Women , Argentinian women , etc . etc . etc . The general message is the same : small portions , regular meals , enjoy fresh , healthy , tasty food , etc . Of course , the traditional foods of any culture can be incorporated into any of these plans , including American foods .
Three issues with Japanese diet are discussed in the book and you should be aware of : 1 . Japanese diet is fairly high in salt . 2 . Japanese eat mostly white rice instead of brown rice . 3 . Extremely low saturated fat levels in the diet has been linked to increased risk of certain types of stroke . So the author recommends lowering the salt level and eating brown rice to even further the health benefits of the diet .
Bottom line : If you prefer Eastern / Japanese food ( very low-fat for the most part , tasty with salt and fish , lots of veggies and rice , not much meat ) , and don't mind buying bonito flakes and things like that , then try Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat . If you prefer French / Western European food ( smaller portions of higher fat foods , butter , cream , some meat , potatoes , sweets , veggies , fruit , yogurt , etc . ) then try French Women Don't Get Fat . Either way , find what's pleasurable for you and enjoy life ! ! ! Be healthy ! !
By the way , I love Pork Rinds . They can be a very healthy part of either the French or the Japanese diet if eaten occasionally , moderately , and only at mealtimes ! Bon Appetit ! !
008 4 The title of this book is pretty clearly a marketing tool and not a reflection of reality . Anyone who has spent some time in Japan knows that the title and the attitude put forth in the book is ethnocentric and smug nonsense . The minute you read that Japanese people eat brown rice , you know it's not a reflection of the real Japanese diet . Japanese people eat only white rice except for when they are ill and except for a few rare souls who are health food fanatics . White rice is the order of the day .
That doesn't mean that the author's recommendations have no value to those wishing to pursue a healthier lifestyle . However , presenting her recommendations as a reason why Japanese appear not to age as much as westerners and why they are thin is simply misleading . And I'm not so sure that one needs this sort of book to tell them to eat fruit , vegetables , fish , whole grains , and avoid fats and dairy . I'm pretty sure most health-conscious people already know such things .
If you want to know about Japanese food , a cookbook featuring Japanese dishes would likely present greater diversity of recipes and be better written . And that is the big problem with the book . It isn't especially well done . The fact that the author is pretending Japanese know something Americans don't about diet and that's why they're small is just a minor annoyance .
As other reviewers have noted , the real secret to Japanese thinness is portion control , lots of working where they have little time to snack or eat ( or even think about food ) , a culture which doesn't easily accomodate cars and relies on walking to a far greater extent than the U.S . , and a far heftier societal pressure to be exactly like everyone else pushing people never to allow themselves to stick out by getting fat .
009 4 Okay , let's point out the obvious - this is a rip-off of ' the French book ' . And it reads like a hastily put together rip-off too : packed with facts about how healthy a Japanese diet is , feeling like it was all a cut and paste from a Google search . And you don't read this one for the food writing - Moriyama is not the new MFK Fisher .
That said , there is a lot going for this book . I didn't mind it . Perhaps that is because i like Japanese food . Perhaps that is because tofu and miso are kitchen staples in this household . But just like ' the French book ' this is mainly just a packaging of common sense - don't stuff yourself , eat fresh , enjoy what you are eating rather than wolfing it all down and moving on , get off your fat behind and walk more . The food in this book is a lot easier to prepare than French food ( most food is easier to prepare than French food ) . Perhaps it will be a revelation for some people , and good on them if they take it on board . Otherwise , just apply some common sense to your life and you will probably feel better is the digested read .
010 4 I started the Japanese way of eating after completing an extended Master Cleanse ( I also highly recommend that one , by Stanley Burroughs ) .
Written like a letter between old friends , Naomi is brilliant in illustrating how the Japanese diet has worked for Japan's women spanning over several centuries . The amount of supporting research is unbelievable . She just puts it out there for readers to decipher , allowing you to arrive at your own conclusion .
The basic idea is that the Japanese eat a lower fat , higher carbohydrate diet while STILL remaining thin and ageless . All food consumed is natural and clean . Nothing is really off-limits per se , but the diet primarily consists of whole , natural foods . I do not know about you , but I would rather have lobster than Cheetos any day of the week .
There are no prescriptions ( cut out all sugar , excercise 5 times / week , eat only protein ) , as with many diets , mainly because . . . this isn't a diet . It is simply a story of one woman's life of eating , and what she has found to be the truth .
A suprising aspect Naomi describes in great detail is the components of the Japanese cuisine . . . much more than sushi and miso soup ! Who knew that the Japanese were such foodies ?
You must read this book . It is a phenomenal insight into one of the world's amazing communities . Even if you do not adopt the Japanese way of eating completely , or at all , this book is defintely worth the read .
011 4 I'm getting a little tired of the vein-popping ( Top Chef ) and heavy bloviation ( see Tony Bourdain ) schools of culinary exposition . Moriyama / Doyle's book is a soft-spoken , lyrical evocation of the joys of Japanese home cooking , packed with usable info for the cooking-challenged . It reads like a meditation . In other words , no headaches .
012 4 I have no ties with Japan whatsoever ; I am a fully Western , European American . I started to read this a couple of weeks ago , only getting halfway through and then deciding that even though it sounded great , it was too intensive for me to focus on right now : shopping for the unfamiliar ingredients and trying to cook foods that are totally new to me was a daunting prospect .
But as the week went on , I kept thinking about all the flavors she described in such luscious detail and I couldn't get them out of my head . So I decided to dive on in . I finished the book and went shopping - - at an Asian Market , an organic foods market and the local grocery store - - and was able to find everything I needed .
I am a pretty experienced cook so decided to go ahead and try the full-out dinner meal of soup , rice and three other dishes . Wow , what a project ! As I was making it , the kitchen looked like a tornado had hit it , and it took me 2 hours to make the meal . I usually only work that hard for a meal on Thanksgiving day ! And as I saw each dish take shape , I really didn't know what to expect as far as taste was concerned ; I was very skeptical ( not least because I have never been a big fan of seafood or tofu ) .
But when my husband and I finally sat down to eat , I was pleasantly surprised to find that each dish was extremely good and the overall experience was wonderful , like dining at a high-end gourmet restaurant . And we had that lingering ' cleansed ' feeling afterward that only comes from eating really good , hearty , simple , healthful food . We were both hooked ! ( See the picture I took of the meal in the customer images section of this product page ! )
Next time , he's going to help me make the meal so hopefully it won't take so long . And since it's just the two of us I probably don't need to do that many dishes each time and I can halve the recipes .
I don't think I will go so far as to switch to Japanese cooking as my main type , but it has definitely widened my pool of food options and also has motivated me to stick with much more healthy recipes of any origin .
Besides the fact that the food is as good as the author claims , I really liked that the book also described Japanese history and culture ; it was a very interesting read just for those reasons too .
013 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Hardcover )
Let's start with the bad ( beyond the gimmicky idiotic title ) . The author's tone is beyond smarmy . She congratulates herself and her countrywomen on almost every page - my favorite being her tale of being 40 - something and going to the liquor store to buy alcohol and being asked for her identification to prove she was of age . Oh please . ( And as another reviewer noted , the author does like to name drop a lot - where she and her husband have traveled ; the upscale hotels they've stayed in , etc . ) Ironically , the smarminess is quite un-Japanese or at least , quite untraditional . One of the first things I learned when I studied Japanese was that modesty in language is paramount and that one must always deflect a compliment . Perhaps we can attribute the smarmy tone of the book to Ms . Moriyama's American husband / co-writer . Either that or she has been in the U.S . too long .
The other negative of this book is that a lot of it seems like a college term paper - statistics and historical anecdotes and what not that she lifted off Google and slapped together to meet the page limit .
But there is actually an excellent book hidden here among the dross . And what that is is a good basic introduction to Japanese home cooking . Have you ever wanted to cook Japanese at home , but have been intimidated or befuddled by the ingredients ? Then this book is for you . In down to earth language , the author explains the difference between the various kinds of tofu , what to look for in purchasing soba , how to buy bonito flakes for dashi , etc . Sure , there are millions of Japanese cookbooks , but this is Japanese cooking for idiots - and I say that as a compliment . ( I find the more elaborate the cookbook , the more likely I am to stare at the pictures in stupefaction and the less likely I am to actually cook anything from the book ) .
Some reviewers have complained that the ingredients in the recipes are too hard to find . However , I can't think of a single ingredient mentioned in the book that cannot be ordered over the Internet and the author includes an addendum of mail order sources ( including a source for hard-to-find Japanese cookware ) .
In sum , I wish this book was 2 / 3 shorter . The recipes , the explanation of the ingredients and perhaps a few charming childhood anecdotes . The rest I could have done without . Yet , I'll keep this book on my kitchen bookshelf and I think in a few months it will be well-splattered .
014 4 Let's start with the bad ( beyond the gimmicky idiotic title ) . The author's tone is beyond smarmy . She congratulates herself and her countrywomen on almost every page - my favorite being her tale of being 40 - something and going to the liquor store to buy alcohol and being asked for her identification to prove she was of age . Oh please . ( And as another reviewer noted , the author does like to name drop a lot - where she and her husband have traveled ; the upscale hotels they've stayed in , etc . ) Ironically , the smarminess is quite un-Japanese or at least , quite untraditional . One of the first things I learned when I studied Japanese was that modesty in language is paramount and that one must always deflect a compliment . Perhaps we can attribute the smarmy tone of the book to Ms . Moriyama's American husband / co-writer . Either that or she has been in the U.S . too long .
The other negative of this book is that a lot of it seems like a college term paper - statistics and historical anecdotes and what not that she lifted off Google and slapped together to meet the page limit .
But there is actually an excellent book hidden here among the dross . And what that is is a good basic introduction to Japanese home cooking . Have you ever wanted to cook Japanese at home , but have been intimidated or befuddled by the ingredients ? Then this book is for you . In down to earth language , the author explains the difference between the various kinds of tofu , what to look for in purchasing soba , how to buy bonito flakes for dashi , etc . Sure , there are millions of Japanese cookbooks , but this is Japanese cooking for idiots - and I say that as a compliment . ( I find the more elaborate the cookbook , the more likely I am to stare at the pictures in stupefaction and the less likely I am to actually cook anything from the book ) .
Some reviewers have complained that the ingredients in the recipes are too hard to find . However , I can't think of a single ingredient mentioned in the book that cannot be ordered over the Internet and the author includes an addendum of mail order sources ( including a source for hard-to-find Japanese cookware ) .
In sum , I wish this book was 2 / 3 shorter . The recipes , the explanation of the ingredients and perhaps a few charming childhood anecdotes . The rest I could have done without . Yet , I'll keep this book on my kitchen bookshelf and I think in a few months it will be well-splattered .
015 4 In reading the reviews , K.M . Harris and T . Tanaka ( Japanese residents ) have got it ( mostly ) right . This is not the reality of the modern Japanese diet , it is a look at traditional dietary habits . I disagree with reviewer Harris that Japanese genetics are the whole story - there is an increase in body fat and weight gain as reported by T . Tanaka and an increase in chronic diseases . These changes are in line with dramatic changes to the Japanese diet in a short period of time so it is indeed quite evident that nutrition can influence genes .
For a more useful overview of the changing Japanese diet and the differences between Western diets and that of Japan , see the excellent new book by Logan - The Brain Diet . This book is based on the realities of the Japanese diet and includes more practical ways to take advantage of the best components of the Japanese diet for health promotion .
016 4 I was intrigued by the title and definitely enjoyed reading this book . It's not a traditional diet book , it's not really the Asian equivalent of French Women Dont ' Get Fat , it's not a food plan for everyone , and it's not a perfect reflection of Japanese society . That said , it most certainly is a fascinating perspective , is filled with statistics that clearly support author's points , and holds lots of really good and healthy suggestions that are doable .
I depend almost exclusively on organic fresh vegetables and fruits , whole grains ( mostly rice ) , grassfed meats , etc . , so you'd think that Japanese cuisine , especially as described here would fit right in to my diet . But personally , I find sea vegetables , fish flakes , and miso to be quite literally nauseating . Despite this - - - and it's a big handicap if you intend to follow this author's recommendations literally - - - I found much that matches my current way of eating and some very interesting and attractive suggestions , as well as some things i'll never have the urge to do but enjoyed reading about .
You don't have to eat Japanese to be thin or healthy , but the underlying principles are completely valid . Just translate them into your food language and enjoy this author's unique perspective .
017 4 I lived in Tokyo for a few years , and my wife is Japanese and a terrific cook . I've been to Tsukiji market and ate many a dinner at shom-ben yokocho in Shinjuku after work . I have a special fondness for the place , and for the food .
If you live in Tokyo , you're more apt to walk or bike to the train station and back each day than drive . As Moriyama points out this level of physical activity is built in to the structure of Japanese urban life . It's one of the best aspects of the place , and that helps as much as the diet I think . Whereas in America exercise is more often a discrete activity you have to make time for .
Moriyama's urban lifestyle though common in Japan is trendy and atypical here . She and her husband live in Manhattan , one of the few places in the US where you can approximate that lifestyle . People put up with living in little apts because life outside is so vibrant . They are able to walk or take cabs and trains to so many places , rather than simply drive everywhere .
But this is far from the typical American life . So is being childless . Once you have kids you'll likely want to move out of downtown to have more space , which means a house , which means less walking and more driving .
And it means kids who will quite probably turn up their noses at fish and miso soup for breakfast - - are you kidding ! And gravitate towards the typical rotten American kid diet of pizza , macaroni and cheese , fries , soda and chicken fingers . And there's little you can do about it - - just check any high-school lunch menu .
I like Japanese food and eat a lot of things most Americans won't touch , like natto , konyaku , and tororo . Even with this headstart , we only eat Japanese food maybe half the time , the kids even less . It is still a struggle to avoid putting on weight .
The book completely lacks this kind of context . If Moriyama was able to follow much of her own advice when raising a family in a typical American setting , then I'd be impressed .
Especially if she continues to work . An aspect of this healthy Japanese cuisine she does not mention is that most Japanese moms do not work outside the home , so have time to prepare all these lovely o-bentos and such . Would she choose to stay home like her mum did , to manage the household and prepare the food for her kids ? I doubt it - - she'd be bored out of her mind in no time - - better to be downtown being slim and fabulous , marketing nostalgia for a lifestyle few of us will ever have access to . And what will her kids eat when she's off working ? I'll tell you what - - pizza and chicken fingers , that's what , just like all their friends .
018 4 The basic talking points in this book are very similar to the French Women Don't Get Fat book : eat small portions and cook with fresh ingredients that are in season . The writing can get repetitive sometimes . But it does provide some interesting insights into the Japanese culture and their way of life . Personally I enjoyed reading the book . That's because I am curious about the Japanese culture and I like Japanese food . You might want to borrow the book first to decide if it is your cup of tea .
Most of the reviews here are right on . This is not a diet book . As a Japanese home cooking book , there are better ones out there . But it's an interesting book into some Japanese's ' view of their culinary culture . There is a strong cultural bias to it though . The author lives a privileged life style ( parents have a penthouse in Tokyo with a view to Mt . Fuji ; she is a successful marketing professional who dines in Manhattan Nobu and stays in Tokyo Park Hyatt ) . A lot of Japanese and American won't be able to identify with her .
Also the title is not completely correct . The not getting fat or old is not exclusive to Japanese but more an Asian thing . Genetically most Asians are smaller than westerners . Those who follow the traditional Asian diet that is heavy in vegetable and light on meat are thinner . Doesn't mean that they are healthier and fit though . For that they need to follow a balanced diet and exercise like the rest of the world . For those Asians who do not have a very harsh life , they look younger because Asian facial bone structure is flatter therefore gets fewer wrinkles . It's not true that Japanese women typically look 10 to 20 years younger ( a lot of Japanese women I have seen do not age well at all ) . It is true that they use a lot of make-up and are among the biggest consumers in cosmetic and skin care products . Some Japanese women I know use skin care products with bleach in order to achieve fair skin . You can't even get these products in America because they are not good for your skin in the long run .
Although I am not offended by the author's culture superiority I do strongly disagree with it . In most cultures , home cooking is healthier than restaurant fares . And you can eat healthy in any cuisine . They key is to eat fresh , eat less , and stay away from processed food and soda . Only people with certain medical conditions need to have a restricted diet . The rest of us can eat anything as long as there is moderation and balance . There is nothing worth noting in this book that hasn't been discussed in other places ; this one just has a Japanese spin to it .
019 4 I cook and eat washoku ( Japanese food ) nearly everyday , so I ordered this book just to qualify for free shipping .
The author so fearful that you will be overwhelmed by the Japanese ingredients that she kind of scared me , too .
Her mother is a wonderful cook , no doubt , but there are simply too much going on in these recipes . Recipe #1 is for dashi broth , I have been using instant broth without problems . What am I going to do with 4 cups of broth that goes bad in 2 days ? tomatoes and eggs in your breakfast miso ? Japanese cooking is really much simpler than this .
This book is for people who love to cook , shop for ingredients , buy stuff for their kitchen ( drop down wooden lid , for instance ) .
Unfortunately , I haven't seen other Japanese cookbooks to compare . What makes Japanese food so easy , it that is lightly cooked and lightly seasoned - perfect for 15 minute cooks like me .
Aside from the recipes , the rest of the information was , kind of , just okay . We know Japanese food is healthly , blah , blah , blah . How about giving us some easy recipes ?
020 4 I picked this book up in a Japanese food store because I'm interested in Japanese cuisine and lifestyles .
I need to address the writing style in my review as I never got over it : I agree with what another review wrote about the smarmy writing style of Ms . Moriyama . There's a lot of unnecessary , self-righteous fluff in there where she touts statistics and ideals repeatedly ; oftentimes , the same information appears twice on the same page ! Her affluent background also doesn't seem to make the everyday Japanese woman that she keeps mentioning feel credible . She implies that all japanese mothers cook naturally and with wholesome ingredients 100% of the time . What about the aisles and aisles of prepackaged curry and hayashi rice sauce and ramen in the Japanese supermarkets ? Would there be so many of these products if Japanese mothers are still cooking these traditional meals she writes about every day ? I really find that hard to believe . . .
Writing-style aside , the recipes seem easy enough to follow and are backed up by plentiful ( at times superfluous ) factual support . I haven't tried out any yet , but I may .
Overall , this book wasn't really my cup of ( green ) tea .
021 4 Finally had some time to read this book and I must say I was disappointed .
To follow-up on the points made by reviewer Carol , Japanese women who are in her ( Naomi's ) age group and younger ( 20 - 49 ) have had an incredible drop in Body Mass Index ( BMI ) over the last 30 years while men and older Japanese women have seen significant and dangerous increases in BMI - its definately not the ' mini ' obesity crisis described by Naomi . The majority of Japan's women , those aged 20 - 49 , are helping to keep the statistics low .
Whats more is that the increased weight among Japanese men and older women is not always captured by the BMI because when weight gain occurs in the Japanese , it tends to accumulate in the abdominal region and not the legs and arms . This is the worst place to gain weight as it is more closely tied to the rapid increases in chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Japan . The Japanese waist circumference is increasing rapidly and adults who are not technically even overweight according to the BMI , let alone obese , are showing increased waist circumference . This may become the biggest challenge to Japan's longevity crown .
The decline in the BMI among young and early-middle-age Japanese women is most noticable in metro areas such as Tokyo and appears not to be related at all to Government educational efforts on the risks of obesity . It appears to be related to social pressure .
As stated from the medical journal Obesity Reviews ( Yoshiike , et al . Twenty-year changes in the prevalence of overweight in Japanese adults . 2002 ; 3 : 183 - 190 )
The desire of young ( Japanese ) women to be thin and their use of extreme diets which , in some cases , can lead to anorectic eating disorders , may explain the decreasing trends in BMI in younger women . This phenomenon could be much influenced by social circumstances , so it is significant that the most pronounced falls in BMI and the lowest prevalences of overweight occured in young women in the metropolitan areas .
A more recent study by the same researchers shows that drops in BMI are occurring in even young girls age 10 - 14 . ( Yoshiike , et al . Trends in childhood obesity in Japan over the last 25 years from the national nutrition survey . Obes Res . 2004 Feb ; 12 ( 2 ) : 205 - 14 )
It appears that the title is somewhat mis-guided . According to the published research on female body weight in Japan , it should be
Older Japanese Women are Getting Fatter : The Secrets of Social Pressure Thinning Young Tokyo Women
Sadly , the traditional Japanese diet that Naomi speaks of is going by the wayside , even among older women . Good recipes are provided , however , a more detailed review of the traditional diet with more extensive Japanese / tropical recipes ( about 4x more ) and readable science can be found in The Okinawa Program by Wilcox .
023 4 The Japanese have one of the lowest obesity rates ( 3% ) and longest life expectancies in the world . Much of this is attributed to their daily exercise for all ages and mainly the Japanese diet , which is heavy on fish , fresh vegetables , fruit , rice , soy , noodles , and tea . Tokyo author Naomi Moriyama blends in her earliest memories of comfort food in her mother's Tokyo kitchen and visiting relatives in the Japanese countryside , where food was simple , in season , and always delicious , and contrasts it to the huge portions of fatty , greasy American food that caused her to gain 25 pounds as an exchange student .
Moriyama-san gently introduces the reader to Japanese cuisine and culture through her petite mother Chizuko and the marvels of her tiny Tokyo kitchen , no bigger than a walk-in closet . She describes each of the common staples such as dashi ( fish stock ) , bonito ( fish flakes ) , seaweed , noodles ( buckwheat soba and white udon , egg ramen ) , cooking oils and wine ( canola , rice bran , sesame , sake , mirin ) , miso ( fermented soybean paste frequently served for breakfast ) , and more in simple detail , easily accessible by the novice or connoisseur alike . Many grocery stores now carry Japanese foods in their international sections ; at the very least , you should be able to find soy sauce , seaweed , ramen , and Japanese short grain rice and noodles . Oriental markets and Japanese markets offer the widest selection of sauces ( curry ) , spices ( gomaiso , bonito , brown sauces ) , and sweets ( bean paste , Japanese chocolate ) .
One of Moriyama-san's greatest inclusions is how to turn your kitchen into a Japanese one , with detailed lists of uniquely Japanese items . However , Moriyama advises using much of what you already have , and buying a few staples ( electric rice cooker , wok ) and dishes to round out your collection . She describes Japanese tableware beautifully , since in Japan , like France , presentation is everything . More and more stores ( Crate and Barrel , Williams Sonoma , World Market ) are carrying Japanese ceramics and lacquerware , and with a few elegant pieces ( rice bowls , soup bowls , small dishes for sides and condiments , noodle bowls , dipping sauce cups and a soy sauce cruet ) and of course , chopsticks , you , too , can savour food as the Japanese do , serving portions on small , elegant dishes which causes you to eat less while enjoying food more .
Of course , there are many recipes that make use of seasonal produce paired with Japanese staples , such as Mom's Carrot Tofu dish , Japanese Country Power Breakfast , Eggplant Sautéed with Miso , Smoked Salmon Rolls with Shiso and Kaiware , and Chicken and Egg over Rice .
This is more of a lifestyle book compared to a diet book . Weight loss is a pleasant side effect of curbing consumption of white flour ( eating brown rice instead of muffins or pasta ) , red meat ( fish is omnipresent ) , dairy , fats ( oil is used sparingly , and butter and cream are absent ) , and sugars ( sweets are usually fresh sliced fruit or sweetened bean paste confections ) , combined with walking and bicycling everywhere as the Japanese do .
Note : for those of you who are sensitive / allergic to soy , like myself , Japanese food is still doable ; you just have to take precautions . Fermented soybean paste ( miso ) is used in many soups , broths , and noodle dishes , as is tofu . It is difficult to find non-soy vegetarian dishes in Japan , as almost all stocks contain fish flakes or soy .
024 4 I agree with another reviewer who says that first the French now the Japanese and perhaps the Scandinavians are next . Worth a try if you love Asian recipes and would prefer a fat reduction diet to have an Oriental rather than Continental twist to it .
025 4 I agree that this book is out of touch with modern day Japan . I've been living in Japan for quite a while and ` healthy ' is the last word I would use to describe most meals that I've eaten here . Products containing wheat and grains are nowhere to be found while starchy foods such as white rice , white bread , processed flours , and loads of potatoes dominate the palette , not to mention the prevalence of fried / oily foods and fatty meats which appear in almost every Japanese meal I eat .
While the recipes listed in this book are great , they in no way reflect reality .
The people I know who lost weight in Japan were college students whose diets in America consisted mostly of greasy pizza and French fries .
I on the other hand had a relatively healthy diet in the States and have actually really struggled because I GAINED weight eating traditional Japanese meals .
I personally found the portions here larger ( never-ending bowls of white rice and ramen ) . I am often constipated and lethargic . The way I feel after these meals is the same if not worse than how I feel after those ( rare ) occasions when I've eaten a supersized BigMac meal .
I also must concur that eating disorders and the use of diet pills here are rampant ( and there is very little being done to help out the girls with these problems ) . Their image if an ideal woman's body puts Hollywood to shame , and the men here tease their wives and girlfriends viciously if their abdomens are not perfectly concave , ribs visible .
No one exercises . Granted , this food is better than American fast-food , but that's how it is with all home-cooked meals . Almost all of the negative reviews of this book are from people who've actually lived in Japan . By all means try the wonderful recipes in this book , eat smaller portions , but listen to the people who've been there ( a country with flaws no better no worse than the rest of us ) rather than forming idealized images that this is how Japan is .
As for that myth about Japanese women not growing old , I've seen some evidence but not nearly to the extent that it is purported to be . The large amounts of Green Tea that they drink contains anti-oxidants which helps prevent cancer and aging . But I've seen plenty of girls in their mid - 20s and 30s whose skin is beginning to wrinkle . Smooth acne free skin among the youth is just as common as where I come from . The girls who don't have perfect skin cover it up with 5 pounds of make-up . . . Actually everybody wears five pounds of make-up regardless of skin . I say that the ultimate beauty secret : protecting your skin from the sun , is the best piece any of us can follow .
026 4 I'm not sure what I was expecting . On the one hand it's interesting to read her comments on her own experiences having changed cultures and lived in both Japan and the USA . On the other hand , the entire book can be summed up as : eat more rice and fish , preferably with Japanese seasonings .
So if your just looking for some light reading on the musings of a Japanese woman living abroad , you'll enjoy this . But don't expect any magic secrets here on weight loss .
Though if you have no clue what constitutes Japanese seasonings , I suppose some of her lists might be of additional value to you .
027 4 As I read this book , I couldn't help but be distracted and irritated by the subtle ( and not so subtle ) hints the author wrote about her posh and rich lifestyle in both Tokyo and New York .
Anyone who knows anything about Japan will immediately recognize the authors need to boast about her less-than-ordinary upbringing ( i.e . all girls school , parent's apartment with a fantastic view of not only Tokyo's vast concrete jungle , but also of Mount Fuji-san ) .
As a current resident of this narrow , over-crowded , noisy country , I can certainly say from first-hand experience the Japanese ( particularly Japanese women ) may not be fat , but they certainly grow old . . . and not gracefully I might add .
I find it interesting how the author paints Japanese women in a light of high-positive-energy and a go get ' em attitude . The reality , however , is that many Japanese women are depressed , frustrated , ultra-self conscious and consumed with envy . Also , the older women are extremely rude , self-righteous , greedy and zuzushii .
To conclude , the recipes were nothing I haven't read before in any other Japanese cookbook . I highly doubt the American dieting public will take to this specialized diet . For those of us who live in Japan , it is atari mae that we will keep on eating our daily washoku . . . and it is atari mae that we will eventually become old .
028 4 The book has been well summarized in previous reviews so I won't repeat the main arguments .
The book could have used some better editing . The writing is sloppy , choppy and full of repetitive empty praising for Japanese home-style cooking . It would have been nice if the author had interviewed several Japanese mothers , like her own , and intertwined their secrets throughout the book . I was a bit tired towards the end of endless stories about her mom and her husband . I'm sure there are more people out there whose stories would have added more depth to the writing . The scientific research behind some sections was interesting , but I couldn't help feel that I was reading the elaborate results of a google search on Japanese food and health .
Finally , I've no idea why the recipes are given in grams . The recipe for rice calls for 370g of rice and 570ml of water ? ! Who measures things this way ? Another recipe calls for 1.5g of bonito flakes or 100g of finely sliced daikon . I can only conclude that Ms . Moriyama is obsessed with her electronic scale .
033 4 I bought this book as a way to re-teach myself how to eat properly . A go back to basics if you will . On the same day I bought French Women Don't Get Fat as well . I'm not a fat person at all , I'm a dancer and I also suffer from hypoglycemia . I tried doing the French book and it didn't go over well at all . I'd gotten to the part where you're supposed to fast for a weekend drinking nothing but some leek broth and my body said no way . I gave up on that book and picked up this one instead . At first I thought it was going to be exactly like the other , but this one turned out to be better . For one thing there was no fasting involved . At first this kind of puzzled me since most diets require you to fast at the beginning . Then it dawned on me that eating more veggies would do the job for you , just a little slower and gentler . Unfortunately I haven't been able to try any of the recipies as I now live on a tight budget and in a small town where mexican food is considered foreign so I have to drive quite a way to find the ingredients I need . Using a little common sense and ingenuity however I applied these principles to Western food ( I am a fully blown European decended American ) along with what my own mother taught me ( stay away from processed foods as much as possible , eat your veggies , etc . ) and found that I was able to find a healthy weight , lots more energy , and I was able to control my hypoglycemia much better . If anything its been several months since I've had a low and I couldn't be more pleased .
Another thing is that people think that this is a loose weight diet book . It's not . It's a way to encourage you to eat healthier and if you happen to loose a couple of pounds along the way then great . Diet doesn't always mean loosing weight . A diet can also be a way to increase energy or prevent you from getting sick .
That being said I can now put my soapbox away on dieting and wrap this up . This book is a nice read and encouraging in that it doesn't browbeat you about being fat and make you feel guilty . If you're looking for a way to re-learn how to eat properly and healty then this is definately the book for you . If you're looking for a fad diet where you'll loose 50 lbs in two weeks then forget it .
( None of my comments are in any way to be taken as medical advice . I'm not a doctor . I've just found something that works for me . )
035 4 I picked this up because I love Japanese food ( especially sushi ) and I was surprised by the stats I saw on the Today Show appearance by the author ( Japanese women only 3% obese , French 11% , American women , yikes , 34% ) . I think their genes may help , although some researchers she quotes in the book say Japanese who flip to the American style of eating get just as chubby . Not that there's anything wrong with that , although I hear obesity can kill you ! I was delighted to find the book is a beautifully written , passionate love letter to good traditional Japanese home cooking - - lots of fish , veggies , soy and rice , all served up in artistic , small plates . It's a style of cooking and presentation that when you stop and think about it is within reach of anyone , and I may start incorporating some of the basic lessons right away . A few of the recipes look a little complicated and you won't find me eating miso soup for breakfast anytime soon , but the logic of the book is overwhelming , and some of the experts say the Japanese diet is the best there is if you can avoid the high salt problem . If you keep an open mind and are willing to try something new , you may fall in love this little gem of a book , some sections of which read like a mesmerizing novel .
037 4 In Japanese Women Don't Get Old or FatL Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen , Naomi Moriyama wrote about why the Japanese people are healthier and live longer than most people in this world due to their eating habits . When she was a college student in the U.S . , Moriyama put on 25 pounds and when she returned home after two years , she lost the extra weight without meaning to . She attributed her unintentional weight loss to her mother's homecook food . According to Moriyama , there are seven pillars of Japanese home cooking that are essential in having a healthier lifestyle . The seven pillars are fish , vegetables , rice , soy , noodles , tea and fruits .
This is an interesting and insightful book to learn more about the Japanese culture and way of life especially in terms of their eating habits . There are certainly more to Japanese cuisine than just the typical teriyaki chicken , sushi and tempura . Bear in mind that , this book is not a diet book . The book is more about staying healthy rather than losing weight . However , there are definitely tips that would be helpful for someone who is concern about his / her weight . This book reminds me a lot of French Women Don't Get Fat : The Secret of Eating For Pleasure by Mireille Guiliano . In fact , the author attributed her title to Guiliano's in her acknowledgmemts . Lastly , the author provided useful information on where to find the traditional Japanese home-cooking incredients at the end of her book . This is especially useful for those who are unfamiliar with Japanese food .
038 4 I feel so much better since I've adopted a Japanese way of eating . Everyone else in my office is sick but I feel great ! I've lost a few pounds without calorie counting . I eat mostly fish , tofu , vegetables , rice ( 1 cup at a time ) , and a little fruit . If I have a sweet it's small and just one . The author's recipes are truly wonderful . Naomi Moriyama's book isn't a diet book per se . It's a description of a way of life . Now if I can just convince my husband to put those huge dinner plates away !
039 4 I was intrigued by the title and book jacket of this book . Having read it in a day , I recommend it highly . You do not have to change your entire kitchen or lifestyle to adopt some of the changes the author recommends , and you do not have to devote inordinate amounts of time to make the recipes . My husband works in NY City near a Japanese market . I gave him a few items to buy : kombu ( seaweed ) , bonito ( fish flakes ) , miso paste , and udon noodles . The day after he came home with them , I saw the same items in my local health food store ( though they cost considerably less at the Japanese market ) . I made dashi and miso soup for my family , added tofu noodles from my local store , and voila , a healthy soup that my children ate happily , not knowing it was a fish-base broth . When they asked , what's in it , mom ? I said , bonito and kombu . When they learn Japanese I may be in trouble , but until then , thank you Naomi , for your sage advice and wonderful recipes !
041 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Paperback )
I thought this book would share secrets to health & longevity by the practices of Japanese women . It is basically a cook book and not a good one at that . I couldn't even finish it . Mostly the author reminisces about her childhood diet .
043 4 Depending on what you are looking for when you bought this book , it could be either very interesting to read or a complete waste of time .
It is not a cookbook in the traditional sense . You will be disappointed if you are looking for that . Although it does give pretty good directions on the recipes , you will need certain basic knowledge on oriental cooking before you could understand what the author is talking about . You might have thought that you prepared what the author had taught , but the lacking of certain details and photos really make it difficult for the new comers to oriental cooking .
It also lacks the effort of trying to introduce authentic Japanese recipes that a Western taste would prefer . ( And hence the comments made by our fellow reader jeffsdate ) . After all , this book is written in English . I am not saying the author should fake the recipes to suit Western taste , but I mean she should emphasize some that Western taste will like . The taste one acquire since birth is hard to change . Just like Naomi thinks the rice ball is such a treat because she had them since as a child . I know the rice balls , and I think most non-Japanese will think that they are just so so . Therefore you should really take the comments that the food is delicious with a grain of salt . They are heavily biased .
Having said that , I still like it as a cookbook because I found the value of it to be a source of knowing what the heck the Japanese are eating at home . It is a matter of practicality . Most cookbooks will teach you how to do fancy dishes , and I don't want to cook fancy Japanese meals everytime I am in the mood for Japanese food .
It cannot be used as a health guide , and this is really a downside of this book . I compared 1 / 3 of its content devoted to health statistic to be a mediocre college paper with a C . The reason is that there are really no fresh perspectives from the author , but just a lot of references to other publications and views . You probably don't need that one sided collection of information if you are serious about learning healthy eating . This is where Naomi as the marketing person , not as the author , comes in . She is doing marketing more than researching here . I do not mean to say that the data she presented is wrong , but the data is incomplete . For instance , it is a known fact that modern day diet , and not traditional Japanese diet , has promoted a taller , stronger and healthier Japanese population today . You can actually observe this recently developed phenomena by visually comparing the body of an old Japanese and a young one . While the same phenomena holds true for many nations around the globe , nowhere is the effect more pronounce than that in Japan . So the modern day diet is not all bad , and neither is the centuries old Japanese diet all good . I would like to see more objectivity in this respect .
Naomi's love for her country is quite obvious in her writing ( I mean her old country . I suppose U.S . is her country now ) , and this book is a great source for picking up Japanese culture and how Japanese thinks in a subtle way , i.e . you have to interpret it . This is what our fellow reviewer , Krista Matsumoto , was referring to . You have to know a little about Japan before you know how to read between the lines in this book . Many things are romantized in this book . Krista is mostly accurate on the subtle arrogance shown in the book and comments on some of the real Japanese women .
Japanese is also hardly the food paradise Naomi was saying . Your choice of food will be very limited in Tokyo . Take soup for instance , you will have basically one soup in Japan - the miso soup . You will also find the fresh and natural to be a little far stretched . Japan is the MSG capital of the world . The instant ramen ( noodle soup ) Naomi is boasting about is all but natural . If those 25 cents packs of MSG soup is an achievement in the gourmet world , Campbell Soup should win a Nobel prize .
You can also find fake crab meat , fake abalone , fake fruit juice , fake meat products all over Japanese supermarket shelves .
The fish in Japan is certainly fresh ( who do you think is buying up most of the whales caught everyyear ? ) , but you can't afford it . There is also a reason why the portion is so little - the food is outrageously expensive . I once saw an apple going for $10 in a Tokyo supermarket . The country and its people were rather poor with limited natural resource until its recent rise as an economic powerhouse after WWII . Why do you think there are so many recipes that call for daikon ? Daikon was all there was .
Lastly , I personally do not find any charm in having 50,000 perfectly good men killed in feudal battles ( a story told in this book ) . It is like 50,000 moths flying into a flame . Some might view it as a noble act . Others might not think so when 50,000 soldiers were sent to certain death . I just can't help but to remember the program I recently saw on the History Channel with scenes of WWII battles on the Pacific Islands , and was disgusted by it . There is no nobility in any wars .
So , what's wrong to be a little over weight anyway ? As long as one is not over weighed like a Japanese Sumo , a little chubby is cute . Santa is chubby , and we like him . Why everyone has to have a figure like a Milan catwalk model ? Everyday common sense is good enough to maintain one's health . There is no need to talk about which culture is more superior with food . Just drink less soda . Eat less deep fried food , and don't over eat .
Scientists did discover that if one allows oneself to starve , one can actually live much longer . They proved it with mice and humans . So the question you have to ask yourself is do you want to prolong your inevitable death from old age as a skinny and starving person ? : )
In summary , I found this book very interesting from my perspective - the desire to learn how the Japanese eat at home and how they think . Naomi did a great job in sharing with us her culture and her childhood . It is like walk through the streets of Tokyo with her . The writing is good and enjoyable to read ( William Doyle did a great job ) and short ( won't take up too much of your time if you just skip all the health stat ) .
044 4 More of a biography of the writer and her family . A few recipes . We all know eat fich , lots of veggies , seaweed is good and eat in moderation . Boring uniformative book - I skimmed it in less than 20 minutes .
There are many much more informative books out there with better recipes . I could get these recipes form a recipe website a lot cheaper .
045 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Hardcover )
Although genetics , self-thoughts , diet ( consumption ) , and metabolic rate ( exercise + caloric expenditure ) play significant roles in appearance , this book includes relatively few secrets worth reading about , which include foods or ingredients consumed by the Japanese culture .
046 4 Although genetics , self-thoughts , diet ( consumption ) , and metabolic rate ( exercise + caloric expenditure ) play significant roles in appearance , this book includes relatively few secrets worth reading about , which include foods or ingredients consumed by the Japanese culture .
047 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Paperback )
I love this book just for the recipes . Everything I have made has been quick , easy and really good . The writing is repetitive but just skim through it if you think you've seen it before . I definitely feel good when I eat this food .
050 4 Its been said by other reviewers already , but I'll say it again . . . completely unoriginal , without any depth . Basic recipes , the book looks like it was put together in a month .
The book is more of a diary of Naomi's high-life . The Proctor and Gamble account , the private school , the high class hotels and high-end restaurants , the bit about usually staying at the Park Hyatt Lost in Translation . . . please ! Billy put on 5 pounds in just 4 days in Tokyo eating fast food - I smell a documentary in the works . Based on a successful rip-off of FWDGF , I suggest Naomi and Billy do a documentary called Super-Size Me : Japan and have Billy eat Japanese fast food for a month in Tokyo ! Contrary to Ms . Moriyama's suggestions , he will put on weight quickly if he sticks to the Family Mart , Lawson or Sunkus prepared food diet .
As for the fancy treats at Mitsukoshi and other department stores , portion size is easily controlled when a tiny dessert or small box of rice crackers can cost 50 or 60 dollars .
Pass on this book .
051 4 Do Japanese women get old or fat ? Well they do get old after a long time . They don't get fat but they have been known to get a little chubby . Do French women get fat ? No ( because they don't eat ) but they do get old . One reviewer asked what's next ? Italian women ? Actually I think Italian women do get fat . These books are great for learning about a culture through it cuisine and like I said , I can't leave the title alone ! ! ! Just remember , the moral of the story is don't eat like a pig , don't eat a lot of fast food . . . and move around some .
053 4 * Lots of new information on how to lose weight
* Yum dishes and easy to make
* Love the part about walking 10,000 steps a day - I believe it has helped me !
* The ' Country Power Breakfast ' has been a great success in our family .
* Now I understand why it's so rare to see an overweight Japanese . How
about others from Asia ? How do they stay slim ?
054 4 I have lived in Japan over 7 years and I will tell you that this book is nothing but hype . The author just wants to get into the my country's food is healthier than yours ! book contest .
The author does not note that in a recent study , 40% of all Japanese women are UNDERWEIGHT . There are a lot of women who have eating disorders . For some , their idea of losing weight is not exercise , but to cut their already small portions even smaller . The author does not tell you that the average Japanese woman has a higher percentage of body fat than a woman of roughly the same build in the US . The author also does not tell you that a thin , flabby figure is most desired by Japanese men so when a woman in Japan eats or diets , she is less likely to exercise and more likely to ( unnecessarily ) decrease calories .
Let's talk about the tableware . Anyone who is following this woman's suggestions is wasting money . Japanese people do not eat out of the fancy dinnerware you would buy at gourmet kitchen stores . They eat out of the same dinnerware you do , only a slightly smaller version .
How about the diet . This woman is throwing out recipies for foods a typical Japanese family wouldn't eat . There is no please the eye mentality these days . Most of my friends grew up on things like fried fish , hamburg steak , spaghetti , and Croquette . Housewives these days are not in the kitchen hours a day because they are busy with jobs , going out to meet their friends , going to take English lessons or some other activity . On any given day , if you check a Japanese child's lunch box , they will most likely have fried chicken , rice , vegetables and fruit . The only difference between their lunch and the American kid's lunch is that they are probably not eating as much food as the American kid . After school , chances are you will see the high school kids hanging out at McDonald's , Mos Burger or some beef bowl place .
Some wanted to know the Japanese secret to great skin . It's the dermatologist . There are no secret products , as the average Japanese person deals with the same skin problems we do . In some areas , due to air pollution , the skin problems are worse . Children in Japan are suffering from increased dry , red skin patches .
Don't waste your time on this book . I will tell you right here what the Japanese secret to longer life is : genetics .
This is common sense eating , but it is not TYPICAL eating .
055 4 If you dont like Japanese food , you won't enjoy this book . I love the food and the book ! Naomi and a group of top scientists and doctors explain how Japan's healthier ( by no means perfect ) eating habits may help for their longer healthy lifestyles and less obesity :
[ . . . ]
Sure , Japanese people eat lots of lousy stuff , too , but overall , there's more healthy eating . I don't cook , but Im going to eat more Japanese food for sure . A fun and healthy read .
058 4 I am a big fan of Eastern food and culture so I found this book very appealing . I , however , found it very difficult to put into practice . The types of ingredients you would need to purchase to truly follow the ideas in the book are difficult to find in many areas . I don't put anything down , though , on the book itself . The writer is interesting and has a lot of good information . She presents herself and her history well without coming across as self-righteous better than you attitude as can come across in some of these lifestyle / diet books .
There are many good receipes and I think they can be user friendly if you tweek them a bit for the products you can find easily or to western taste .
If you do want to venture into cooking authentic Japanese food then this is definitely a book you will enjoy and you will most likely lose weight . If you are more like me and enjoy Japanese food , when someone else fixes it ( or when you are in Japan ) then you may want to pass on actually trying to follow the plan . The book itself is still worth a read just for insights into how to have a more intuned active lifestyle and attitude .
059 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Paperback )
This book is full of great history , advice and delicious recipes that are easy to make . Its worth checking out .
061 4 This book offered some good nutritional advice , especially about eating until you're 80 percent full . I also enjoyed learning about Japanese attitudes toward food presentation , freshness , and everyday exercise .
The recipes do look delicious , although I'm not sure how easy it would be to adopt a Japanese diet exclusively . It seems a bit daunting to use some of the ingredients she discusses .
All in all , I found this book's content interesting , but the title and format are very unoriginal . It is almost identical to French Women Don't Get Fat . Same type of story : author moves to the U.S . , gains weight , returns home to horrified relatives , loses weight , reclaims her cultural wisdom . As a well-known ad agency in Texas is known to say , Imitation is the sincerest form of a lack of imagination .
064 4 This food really is different than the Japanese places - , that i know , you will love it .
I can tell the difference in I how feel after every meal . I'm sure after incorporating this book into my diet .
065 4 And if you're all so disinterested in other cultures , what made you look at it in the first place ? It sounds like December of ' 41 up in here . Get your air raid helmets on , ladies ( and I use that term loosely ) .
As for the book , it's not bad . Better than South Beach , if not necessarily based on any better science . Moriyama has a very readable style , but ultimately it's just another diet book , and we all know the diet industry's dirty little secret : the worse they make you feel , the more money you spend .
066 4 This review is from :
Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat : Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen ( Hardcover )
I enjoyed this book with Naomi's anticdotes about her mother's kitchen in Japan , and some recipes as well , but it would have been nice to know other things like a typical day in Japan , Japanese beauty secrets , and so on . I have other Japanese cookbooks with better recipes and information , so I wasn't really looking for another cookbook . So , if Japanese women don't age as fast as Western women , I realize it's partly attributed to the diet , but I'm sure they have some beauty secrets as well . Maybe Naomi might want to add some of these in her next book .
069 4 I am currently living in Japan as an expat and have been here for 10 months ( 2 more years to go ) . Japanese women have very high metabolisums and eat twice as much as we do , all of the expats here currently have gained at least 10 lbs ( at least all of the ones that we know ) . Eating like the Japanese is not a diet or a weight loss plan , they eat allot . Please keep in mind that in Japan many people walk instead of drive so they are always on the go , it is much easier to walk most places and if you take a train of course you are still looking at tons of walking .
Also if you like beer , it is heavy and has more calories than American brews .
This is not a diet trust me ! !
070 4 If cover photo was steaming rice as Tanizaki's quote in the book instead of the slim , but wrinkle faced author posing with white teethed grin not readily available in Japan , I might have liked the book better . It's pretty imformative history and how tofu is made and stuff . Her mom might be the last generation of Tokyo kitchen goddesses - - Showa hitoketa age group ( b .1925 - 1935sh ) know wartime hardship and re - costructed Japan to what it is today , all the while doting on their kids with luxury they themselves lacked . Result is the totally pampered , princessed , well mannered but self centered , well educated but no clue what's in the big world really , polished by spending tons of money ( some of their own but more likely daddy's and honey's ) middle aged woman you see on the cover . Other reviewers are correct . Just look at what's on the table in today's Tokyo kitchens run by younger housewives . Their mothers already grew up preferring fast food and ramen noodle packet , no longer bony fish with head and gills intact . I am afraid this book is not practical for diet nor recipe ( sorry , we don't do ounces we do grams ) misleading to Americans with better intention . It should be titled and promoted as nostalgic culture guide written in bad English .
College educated in two countries and good job in the New York City , but still cannot write decent English ? I am well , lost . Even Haruki Murakami won't translate his own books ( but he does backward to Salinger and Ray Carver's . why ? ) Sooo hard it is , this language thing .
071 4 As another reviewer said , this is a total ripoff of French Women Don't Get Fat , only with seaweed , dried fish flakes and soy instead of apple tart , vegetable soup with pesto , etc . ( Which would YOU rather eat ? ) I can't imagine eating fish , tofu and / or seaweed for breakfast , no matter how healthy and slimming it might be . Every single recipe calls for at least one ingredient that I wouldn't have a CLUE how to find - - and frankly , not one recipe appealed to me . All the stuff about how bad the American diet is , is true - - but come on , we've heard it before . I am giving it 2 stars only to be nice , and because I'm not particularly a Japanese food fan in the first place , so I figure I'm slightly biased .
