Washoku
/wəˈʃoʊkuː/noun
Traditional Japanese cuisine, emphasizing seasonal ingredients, balance, presentation, and cultural ritual.
Did you know?UNESCO added washoku to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, recognizing its links to New Year rituals and communal life.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Old Chinese
和
“Harmony, agreement, peace; later associated with Japan in Sino-Japanese usage”
Ancient China
Old Chinese
食
“To eat; food or nourishment”
Before 8th Century
Classical Japanese
和食
“Japanese-style food or Japanese cuisine, using Sino-Japanese readings”
8th–12th Century
Japanese
和食（わしょく）
“Food identified as Japanese, contrasted with imported or foreign culinary styles”
19th–20th Century
Japanese
washoku
“Japanese cuisine, especially in contrast with Western-style food”
Modern English
English
washoku
“Traditional Japanese cuisine, now used internationally in culinary and cultural contexts”