As a follow up to the presentation training at Hokkaido University, I thought I’d mention what a vibrant international place it is. Many people’s first association with the Hokkaido is great food (Genghis Khan barbecue, fish, dairy), the Yuki Matsuri snow festival, and perhaps Ashikawa Zoo, but the international side to the university surprised me. I found that the university has 1002 students from outside Japan: 826 from Asia, 52 from Europe, 46 from Africa, 31 from South Africa, 20 from North America, and from the 16 Middle East.

This must make the university a very exciting place to study, especially if you get to enjoy the delicious edibles served by hundred students at a food festival that takes place each summer in the university grounds. Here, Japanese staples like takoyaki competed with spicy Chinese stir fry, fragrant Moroccan stews, and comforting garlicky falafels. Japanese and foreign students worked together to produce authentic food, dress in national costume, and decorate their stands. One innovative group even had a Mongolian yurt. The International Student center provides a forum for Japanese and foreign students to interact and share conversation and culture at events that celebrate both Japanese culture and that of the students. It’s no accident that the activities that are popular revolve around food and drink; beside the summer food festivals there are other events such as tea ceremonies, a Halal Food Lunch introducing Islamic culture, and cooking classes.

Food, like laughter, is often ‘the shortest distance between two people’. I realize that being able to talk about food in another language gives a real sense of closeness. If you can make someone imagine the food you love, then they know something important about you. As a Brit, I love Yorkshire pudding – a savory dish made of flour, egg, and milk and eaten with roast beef as a main course. I have to tell my Japanese friends that ‘pudding’ does not always mean something sweet. I talk about all the wonderful dishes from England to tell my Japanese friends there is more than “fish and chips”, just like Japanese food is much much more than sushi. If you are meeting a foreign person for the first time and you want an easy conversation topic to begin with, I can’t think of a better topic than your favorite Japanese food. Or, if that person lives in Japan, then why not ask them about what they recommend from their home country? Bon appetit!