9781422277454

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Introduction

Japanese restaurants are familiar sights in most Western cities.

EvenAmericanswholiveincom- munitieswithfewpeopleof Japanese descent are probably familiar with certain aspects of that country’s culture, especially its food. Accord- ing to some estimates there are now morethan9,000Japaneserestaurants across the United States—from in- expensive chicken-teriyaki places in mall food courts to fine dining

establishmentswhereamealof sushi prepared by a famed chef can cost hundreds of dollars. Japanese immigrants haven’t just introduced delicious new foods to the countries inwhich they’ve set- tled, however. They’ve helped make their new homes more diverse and interesting places.