Eating habits of family of wealthy farmer in Obanazawa village during the late 19^th century

A study of Souin's Diary

Abstract

This study examined the contents of a diary written by Souin Suzuki, a wealthy farmer who lived in the late 19th century in Obanazawa village (now Obanazawa city), situated next to one of the main traveling roads of North Eastern Japan, and close to an important river in Yamagata prefecture.
This diary covers a 35 year span from the end of the Kouka Period to the late beginning of the Meiji period (1846-1882). It relates the personal family history, the main occurrences of the village and its surroundings, as well as a record of public events, such as festivals, weddings, funerals, etc. A detailed account of the food served for these occasions was carefully recorded. By analyzing the contents of the meals, an insight into the eating habits of these people was possible. Every course meal and amount of alcohol served over each year was counted and summed up. It was concluded that the meals were not only composed of local products, but also of rare delicacies and perishables brought mainly by boat from all over Japan.