John Kessler writes “The Japanese Paradigm” to highlight the pervasiveness of Japanese food in the culture of the United States. Kessler explicates the misappropriation of Japanese eating habits in America with the help of his arguments and experiences. In the article, Kessler sheds light on various facts due to which American culture does not appreciate Japanese food. The writer includes different evidence and personal experience in the article to prove that Americans are failed to understand the healthy eating habits and lifestyles of the Japanese. The article includes the 1983 experience of Kessler, in which he lives in a city of Japan and enjoys Japanese food. He visited many places and eat different dishes from Japanese cousins. The personal experience of Kessler in Japan helped him in understanding that the Japanese people eat in small portions and focus on food with high calories and less fat.
The center of Japanese culture is on eating quality food in contrast to the quantity in American culture. It is found that the people of the United States considered the Japanese dishes as unhealthy and avoid them from eating because of deep-fried dishes in it. Although, Kessler provides the statistics and according to that, Japanese obesity rate is only 3% as compared to America’s 31% rate. Moreover, the author explores through his experience that the Japanese eat more dishes in small bowls that keep them healthy. Kessler observes that the eating style of Japan prevents many diseases because of their approach to satisfying hunger. Kessler claims that the main reason behind the misappropriation of Japanese food practices in America is the failure to understand the healthy approach of the Japanese in the translation of the food recipes such as deep-fried sushi.
