Blogs edited and submitted by Chiho Kamioka
JOI Support staff and manager.
Insects as food
Insects as food
As the global population increases and fears of future food shortages grow, there has been an interest in edible insects.
In many cultures around the world, insects already form a part of the daily diet or eaten as a delicacy. So if we can overcome our scruples, this could be an interesting evolution of the human food culture.
In this Japanese language blog, Japanese teacher Yukiko Takane explores this fascinating topic. You can learn a lot of new vocabulary and Japanese Kanji from this blog. You can also practice Japanese listening from the YouTube video.
昆虫食
Insects as food
By TAKANE Yukiko
次世代の食材として、昆虫食が注目されています。 将来、世界で食料不足になったとき、人類を救ってくれる食材になるかもしれません。
実は昆虫は栄養が豊富で、加工しやすいそうです。色々な食品への活用が期待されています。 多くの昆虫は食べることができますが、野生で生きているものなので、殺菌消毒しなければいけません。毒のある昆虫もいますから注意が必要です。 自分で料理するのは危険ですね。
昆虫なんて食べられない!と思う人も多いと思います。(私もです) 粉末やペーストを他の食品に混ぜれば食べられそうですよね。 または、料理を作る人に内緒で混ぜてもらうのはどうでしょうか。
To listen to this blog, please watch our Youtube video.
昆虫食(こんちゅうしょく)
次世代(じせだい)の食材(しょくざい)として、昆虫食(こんちゅうしょく)が注目(ちゅうもく)されています。 将来(しょうらい)、世界(せかい)で食料不足(しょくりょうぶそく)になったとき、人類(じんるい)を救(すく)ってくれる食材(しょくざい)になるかもしれません。
実(じつ)は昆虫(こんしゅう)は栄養(えいよう)が豊富(ほうふ)で、加工(かこう)しやすいそうです。色々(いろいろ)な食品(しょくひん)への活用(かつよう)が期待(きたい)されています。 多(おお)くの昆虫(こんちゅう)は食(た)べることができますが、野生(やせい)で生(い)きているものなので、殺菌消毒(さっきんしょうどく)しなければいけません。毒(どく)のある昆虫(こんちゅう)もいますから注意(ちゅうい)が必要(ひつよう)です。 自分(じぶん)で料理(りょうり)するのは危険(きけん)ですね。
昆虫(こんちゅう)なんて食(た)べられない!と思(おも)う人(ひと)も多(おお)いと思(おも)います。(私(わたし)もです) 粉末(ふんまつ)やペーストを他(ほか)の食品(しょくひん)に混(ま)ぜれば食(た)べられそうですよね。 または、料理(りょうり)を作(つく)る人(ひと)に内緒(ないしょ)で混(ま)ぜてもらうのはどうでしょうか。
Insects as food
As a next generation of food sources, insects are getting a lot of attention. In the future, when there is a shortage of food, this could become the food ingredient that saves mankind.
Actually, insects are rich in nutrition and easy to process. They are expected to be utilized in a range of food products. Many types of insects can be eaten but because they live in the wild, they need to be properly sterilized. And there are some insects that contain poison, so it is necessary to take care. So it would be dangerous to cook them ourselves.
There are many people (including me) who think “I would never eat insects!” But if they are powdered or made into a paste and mixed with other food ingredients, I could probably eat them. And then again, if the person cooking them kept it a secret and mixed them in I probably could as well.
昆虫食(こんちゅうしょく) Insect foods
次世代(じせだい) next generation
食材(しょくざい) ingredient
注目(ちゅうもく) pay attention
食料不足(しょくりょうぶそく) short of food
人類(じんるい) humans
救(すく)う save
栄養(えいよう)が豊富(ほうふ)rich in nutrition
加工(かこう) processing
食品(しょくひん) food
活用(かつよう)use, utilise
期待(きたい)expectation
野生(やせい)wild
殺菌消毒(さっきんしょうどく)sterilizing
毒(どく)poison
粉末(ふんまつ)powder
ペースト paste
Hajimemashite, I am Yukiko Takane.
I live in Chiba Prefecture. My hometown is near the ocean and is surrounded by rice fields - its a laid-back place. The sashimi and rice is really good here. My family home makes rice as well, so I usually help out during the harvest season. I may look weak, but actually I can lift a 30kg bag of rice.
In the past, I taught Japanese in Saipan and Cebu islands. The people I got to know there are precious to me. I am really looking forward to meeting you all in the online classrooms. I have been called 'Takani' Sensei or 'Okane' sensei by my students. Well, I am not a 'crab' nor am I 'money' - the name is Takane. Doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Try to use your newly learned vocabulary and phrases all the time in the lessons. Looking forward to meeting you all in class !