Photo by © Kyodo via
The Japan Times
Pre-reading questions:
- What is your favorite food? Why?
- What unusual food do you want to eat? Why?
Vocabulary:
- order /AWR-der/
[noun] with the aim of achieving something
She studies every night in order to pass the entrance examination.
- tradition /truh-DISH-uhn/
[noun] cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
The art exhibit we attended yesterday reminded me how important our tradition is.
- preserve /pri-ZURV/
[verb] to keep something from decaying, destroyed or dying
I truly believe that we should preserve our natural resources.
- culture /KUHL-cher/
[noun] the way of life of a particular group of people at a particular time
She was amazed by the culture of the tribe.
- taste /teyst/
[verb] to have a particular flavor
This wild fruit tastes sweet and a little sour.
Nagano prefecture encourages young people to learn how to catch and cook its aquatic insects in order to save its old tradition. Caddisflies and stoneflies larvae locally known as Zaza, are the insects that were treasured and served before as sources of protein. As licensed fishers have continued to decrease, catching and serving Zaza was affected in the community. Thus, local authorities initiated an activity where young people can catch and eat Zaza insects, at the same time preserve the prefecture’s culture.
Students from a local agricultural high school participated in the event last January 2019, where three fishermen conducted a demo on catching the larvae. After the event, the students ate some insects made into a Tsukudani dish. According to Taisei Imamura, one of the students, the insect food was crispy and it tasted like shrimp. The officials of Ina City and Nagano Prefecture plan to continue promoting traditional food through tasting events in Tokyo shops.
Comprehension Questions:
- Why does Nagano prefecture encourage young people to learn about Zaza?
- What are the insects that were served as Tsukudani dish?
- According to the article, what affected the serving of Zaza in the community?
- Who participated in the event last January?
- What is the plan of the officials of Ina City and Nagano Prefecture?
Discussion Questions:
- Have you tried the insect food in Nagano Prefecture? If yes, tell more about it. If not, do you want to try? State your reasons.
- Do you think the local officials will be successful in promoting their insect food? Discuss your answer.
- Do you believe that people who eat exotic food are healthier? Why or why not?
- Do you think some old traditions should be forgotten? Why or why not?
- What is the best tradition that you want to practice all your life? Why?
[noun] with the aim of achieving something
She studies every night in order to pass the entrance examination.
[noun] cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions
The art exhibit we attended yesterday reminded me how important our tradition is.
[verb] to keep something from decaying, destroyed or dying
I truly believe that we should preserve our natural resources.
[noun] the way of life of a particular group of people at a particular time
She was amazed by the culture of the tribe.
[verb] to have a particular flavor
This wild fruit tastes sweet and a little sour.
Students from a local agricultural high school participated in the event last January 2019, where three fishermen conducted a demo on catching the larvae. After the event, the students ate some insects made into a Tsukudani dish. According to Taisei Imamura, one of the students, the insect food was crispy and it tasted like shrimp. The officials of Ina City and Nagano Prefecture plan to continue promoting traditional food through tasting events in Tokyo shops.