Washoku as a Creative & Contemplative Practice

Washoku (和食), a word that encompasses all of Japan’s culinary heritage, also refers specifically to the Japanese practice of using five colors, five tastes, and five techniques to prepare a meal. 

Following Washoku’s prompts to incorporate all the colors, tastes and elements in our cooking, requires us to become resourceful, agile creators everytime we make a meal. Washoku invites us to close our eyes and really taste what flavors are present in each bite of food. As our senses awaken and our systems rejoice with delight and nourishment, it’s only natural to experience gratitude. An upsurge in gratitude is one of the clues that you’re on the right track. 

I’ve been practicing Washoku for almost 20 years now, but the creativity and contemplation that it evokes never cease to amaze me. 

In his book, The Creative Act, Rick Rubin reflects on how “the energy of wonder and discovery can get lost when treading the same ground over and over again,”  and he recommends applying rules to any kind of creative project as a means for helping structure awareness for how to develop it to the fullest. Rubin emphasizes that by using self-imposed rules to cull the unnecessary excess, we can set our work “apart from past efforts with potential for groundbreaking results.”

Similarly, I’ve found that using the rules of Washoku as a framework to craft menus has offered me the perfect balance of structure and freedom to exercise my creativity, explore culinary possibilities, and design peerless dining experiences. Plus this traditional Japanese approach empowers me to come up with unique menus on the fly while shopping the farmers market — which is one of my greatest joys.

If you are interested in finding a daily practice that can help you deal with stressors, clear creative blocks, increase mental wellness, and reclaim your palette from processed foods, I invite you to give Washoku a try. Especially if you’ve never heard of it, I believe the chances are even better that it could make the subtle difference in perception that will change your relationship with food for the better. 

I am in the process of developing recipes and resources to share my love of Washoku, and I would love to connect if this topic piques your curiosity. 

Please be in touch! leanne@bentopicnic.com