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Napolitan ナポリタンNapolitan
  • Napolitan ナポリタン
  • Napolitan ナポリタン
  • Napolitan ナポリタン
  • Napolitan ナポリタン
  • Napolitan ナポリタン
  • Napolitan ナポリタン

The inspiration people seek: “See Naples (Napoli) and die,” meaning that before you die, you have to experience the beauty of Italy’s city of Naples, is an expression known in Japan as well. There is a special, even magical allure evoked by the name “Italy” in the minds and imaginations of many Japanese. It’s a place where the traveler will find ancient ruins and artifacts from the Roman Empire, Renaissance art and culture, the beautiful landscapes along the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, the magnificent Alps that rise at the country’s northern borders, and the myriad and beautiful products of Italian craftspeople. The opening expression (Vedi Napoli e poi muori in Italian) was eventually translated into Japanese, and if you ask people in Japan about their destinations of choice, many will say Naples. This too is a part of the Japanese image of Italy. Read more

In short: The origin of the Japanese word napolitan is of course the Italian port city of Naples (Napoli), famous around the world for its scenic beauty and acknowledged by its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It also comes from the word “Neapolitan” in English, meaning a person from Naples. Regardless of these original meanings, napolitan holds a unique place in Japanese culinary culture today, and you will find it very hard to find somebody in the country, regardless of age, who hasn’t eaten this truly “national dish.” Read more

Some background: Napolitan is thoroughly a part of the popular Japanese menu, but surprisingly little is known about its origins. The only thing we can say with some certainty is that the dish’s history in Japan began some time after the Meiji Restoration (1868)—a series of events that can rightfully be called a revolution—in which the world of the samurai was swept away and virtually all aspects of Japanese society, including the food eaten, the values held and the way people thought, underwent dramatic changes. Read more

Thanks to Sabouru (Coffee shop Sabor)

Thanks to Sabouru (Coffee shop Sabor)
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