Assignment!

Hi all,

It’s time to give you an assignment for this class, as I mentioned earlier.

I always try to choose themes based on conversations with students, and this year, I discussed ideas with some of you (refer to “Check the comments on your posts”).

After careful consideration, I decided on the theme:

"Foods eaten or not eaten for specific reasons, such as religious or superstitious beliefs, or periodic traditions".

Here are some examples that come to mind:

Soba on New Year’s Eve and on the moving day; Katsudon on the previous day of the exam; soy beans on the last day of winter; Cucumbers (not eaten) during Yamagasa festival in Fukuoka; Chimaki on May 5th; Unagi on the Midsummer Day of the Ox,,,and so on. I love more local traditions like “Nehan dango” (Budda dumpling) in Toyama Prefecture.

You can choose one of the examples above, or you can come up with your own topic.

One concern I have is that your presentation might become too short if you only explain the reason behind the tradition. To make it more substantial, consider adding personal experiences or examples. Alternatively, you could choose a broader topic, such as "Foods restricted in Indian religions."

Please suggest your topic (to avoid duplicate topics among students) as a comment on this post. The sooner, the better.

I would like to ask you to submit your presentation slides (in MS PowerPoint or a similar format) by 15th January, 2025.

Below are the instructions:

1. Each of you should state your topic as a comment on this post by January 5, 2025.

2. Prepare your presentation and send the files directly to me by January 15, 2025.

3. I will select 3–4 presentations at a time. We will watch them together, making Q&A sessions in comments for several days, and then move on to the next set of 3–4 presentations each week.

4. Each week, after watching the presentations, you are required to ask questions to at least two presenters.

5. Once all presentations have been discussed, the class will conclude (sometime between mid to late February).

Sounds good?

If you do not have MS powerpoint, ask me. If you can prepare it via google slide or something that we can see via browser, that will be fine.

You should try to include the following in your presentation:

1. Describe what it is: When do people eat or avoid eating it?

2. Explain the reasons and/or history behind the custom, as well as the regions where it is commonly practiced.

3. Include photos instead of only text. You can use images from the web (be sure to include the source URL, as shown in the sample file) if you don’t have your own photos.

4. If it is available commercially (sold somewhere), please share that information.

Any questions?

You can see the examples, which the previous students prepared,

Bedding Noodle: The topic was "noodle" this time.

Hooba: the topic was preservation.

Takashi