it's the cheese

[arethinn]

I really don't know why I'm having this thought, but...

Why is it that one never sees Japanese cheese, even in the most worldly cheese-counter? Even if there's some kind of dairy importation law, that wouldn't stop it - lots of cheeses of a particular ethnic style (e.g. feta, mozzarella...) are made right here in CA. Do the Japanese just not have much dairy in their culinary history?

Comments

[queenofstripes.livejournal.com]

Actually, they don't. I've heard that it was a cultural taboo in Chinese culture, and perhaps one the Japanese picked up, that drinking the milk of an animal gave you its traits -- and who wants to be like a cow!? Regardless, for whatever reason, Japan and China just never got into the dairy thing, not until recently. A common complaint about the earliest Western visitors to Japan, in fact, was that they stank of animal fats because of all the butter and cheese they ate.

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

*drinks dragon's milk*

;)