Traditional Japanese food is collectively known as WASHOKU (和食), meaning literally “food of Japan”. The first character, 和 (wa), which means Japan or Japanese, also represents harmony, and the second character 食 (shoku) means food or to eat.

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In 2013, WASHOKU was designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. WASHOKU is a unique food culture and it is enjoyed internationally by amateurs and professionals alike.