Theme: Culture of Food and Health

Outline and Objective

In April 2022, the Maritime Asian and Pacific Studies (MAPS) Project was launched as a “Global Area Studies Project” by the National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU), Japan. The MAPS Project is conducted at four centers: Kyoto University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Toyo University, and the National Museum of Ethnology, which is the main center of the MAPS Project. The Kyoto University project, established in the Division of Southeast Asian Area Studies of the Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies (ASAFAS) of Kyoto University, conducts research on the theme of “Culture of Food and Health.”

Regarding which countries/regions are referenced by the phrase “Maritime Asia and the Pacific Area”, Asia refers to East Asia (including Japan), Southeast Asia refers to various countries, South Asia refers to India, West Asia refers to the Middle East, and Central Asia refers to the interior of the Eurasian continent. The Pacific, conversely, refers to Oceania and consists of a number of island countries as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The intent of “Maritime Asia and the Pacific Area Studies” is to study this region with a focus on “maritime areas,” without regard to which countries and regions are administratively part of the region. In the past, area studies tended to be based on land areas (including coastal seas), such as lands, nation-states, and ethnic groups. The MAPS will now reveal the details of the cultures of the Eurasian and Australian continent as well as their many islands from a maritime perspective.

Regarding the research theme of this project, “Culture of Food and Health”, humans have survived through the procurement or production of food and by healing our own illnesses and injuries. When studying human populations, concepts such as whether or not they have sufficient food and nutrients and how long they can live have been of great significance. However, when examining living people, there are more important aspects to consider than mere survival. Humans wish to eat good food, with good company, and with enjoyment. Living humans do not simply want to be free from disease or injury; they want to live happy and cheerful lives every day. Food and health are fundamental to human beings, and a rich culture has been formed to satisfy these needs, but the value and purpose of this culture is flexible and changing. From Life to Health. And from Health to Well-being. The theme of “Culture of Food and Health” will focus on the culture of well-being in the broadest sense of the word.

The peoples of maritime Asia and the Pacific have diverse roots as descendants of prehistoric groups that migrated to the islands and continents, those born from intermarriage and interactions among groups, and populations formed through trade and migration in the posthistoric period. However, all of these people have been involved in some way with the sea area throughout their history. In resource-limited island environments as well as the diverse climates of tropical rainforests, tropical monsoons, tropical savannas, and deserts, people have formed groups and sustained a lifestyle that promotes well-being.

Today, we see societies that are experiencing rapid economic growth due to globalization, societies that are losing their traditions due to globalization, and societies that are suffering from climate change and disasters. In addition, many countries in the maritime Asia and Pacific region that have experienced colonial rule by the “great powers” have seen large numbers of immigrants move in. Although the geographical distribution of Asian islands and coastal areas and the Pacific is vast, there are many societies that share common problems. We believe that investigating the diversity of cultures, environments, and issues through fieldwork and other regional research methods will lead to a better understanding of oceanic regions as a whole and solutions to the associated problems. To this end, multifaceted research by researchers from various fields is indispensable.

In this way, this Kyoto University project will conduct research to clarify the details of human well-being related to living in marine areas, from the basic aspects of culture and climate to the applied aspects of contemporary issues.

Research Theme

• Indigenous cultures and cultural transmission through the sea
• Physical, physiological, and cultural adaptations to diverse environments
• Cultural responses to climate and social change
• Creation and publication of the “Food and Health MAP”

Key words

subsistence, traditional food, preserved food, delicacy, luxury goods , traditional treatment, modern treatment, public health, disability, welfare, intestinal bacteria, alcohol problem, sea level rise, development, forest ecosystem, modern and contemporary history, language, mutual aid, food trade, atoll, continent, GIS