Specialty Food, Market Culture, and Daily Life in Early Modern Japan: Regulating and Deregulating the Market in Edo, 1780-1870

This study explores the social and cultural history of Japan through the lens of food and food ways, focusing on the early modern Japanese capital of Edo. It reveals how specialty foods, which were available at the market, connected different social groups and empowered ordinary people to assume control over the distribution of these foods, ultimately affecting their procurement for the shogunal kitchen.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

This groundbreaking study offers a novel perspective on the social and cultural history of Japan by examining the role of food and food practices. Through a comprehensive analysis of food markets in the early modern Japanese capital of Edo, Akira Shimizu paints a captivating portrait of early modern Japanese society. Specialty foods, including seasonal, regional, and hard-to-find delicacies, played a pivotal role in connecting various social groups, catering to the palate of the shogun, the highest political authority in the land. Peasants, fishermen, and merchants, who made these specialty foods available at the market, engaged in constant negotiations with powerful wholesalers and government authorities responsible for procuring the finest quality specialty foods for the shoguns Edo Castle.

By utilizing a wealth of previously unseen archival material, the book delves into the intricate details of the production, supply, and handling of specialty foods. It sheds light on how ordinary people, often marginalized by the existing market order, were empowered to take control of the distribution of these foods, ultimately influencing their procurement for the shogunal kitchen. This disruption of the existing market dynamics led to a reconfiguration of market relations, challenging the established hierarchies and power structures of the time.

Through its meticulous research and engaging storytelling, this study provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex interplay between food, society, and power in early modern Japan. It offers a fresh perspective on the role of ordinary individuals in shaping historical events and sheds light on the intricate social and cultural dynamics of a period that continues to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 481g
Dimension: 229 x 160 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793618269