Presented By Jason Jones — February 1, 2024
Japan is well known as one of the world’s gustatory capitals. From Michelin-starred restaurants and hidden-gem izakaya, to fully-stocked bars inside your local convenience store along with specialty wine bars, Japan’s culinary scene runs the gamut.
In this talk, we will view wine from the perspective of the sommelier in Japanese wine manga—a media form through which Japan’s culinary acumen and affluence are recorded and repackaged for popular consumption. It is through the sommelier in wine manga that we are introduced to some of the world’s most popular wines, many of which remain readily available. The sommelier also serves as our tour guide across what can seem like an intimidating terrain of terroir, lexical complexity and life lessons, granting the reader increased confidence in their ability to navigate the world of wine. As part of our exploration, we will visit epoch-making works such as Araki Joh’s Sommelier and La Sommelière as well as Tadashi Agi and Shū Okimoto’s immensely popular Les Gouts de Dieu, or Drops of God, which has seen multiple adaptations into televised series, the most recent appearing in 2023 as an internationally-streamed drama. Prepare both your eyes and your taste buds for a delectable treat!
Topics to be covered
- What is the wine education landscape in Japan?
- The uptake of wine in Japan
- What is “gourmet manga”?
- What are the origins of wine manga?
- What does the sommelier in wine manga teach us about wine?
- Where to start when learning about wine through manga and other sources of popular representation
SPEAKER PROFILE
Dr Jason Jones
Jason Jones is Coordinator of Japanese Studies at Monash University. His work centres on cultural adaptation as represented in Japanese film, television, animation, manga, and other texts. His most recent research topics have seen him examining the world from the perspective of the Japanese sommelier in wine manga—yes, there is such a thing—and (re)visiting the 1960s, 70s and 80s to investigate the image-creating capacity of US media products in Japan. He is also an active subtitler and scripter for a number of international streaming services.
This is the first of three events in the talk series, Red, White And Rosé: A Celebration Of Wine And Winemaking In Japan.
ABOUT THE TALKS IN THIS SERIES
Click on the talk of your choice for more information.
FEBRUARY 1
FEBRUARY 8
Interview with Koshu winemakers and wine tasting
FEBRUARY 15
Genomic characterisation of Japanese indigenous wine grape
EVENT DETAILS
February 1 – 15 (Thursdays), 2024
6:00pm-7:00pm AEDT
Free; Attend onsite, in-person or watch online.
Bookings are only required for wine tasting on February 8.
*You must be over 18 to book. Booking will open on January 29, 2024 at 10:00am AEDT.
Bookings open January 29, 2024Watch online
Video via Facebook Live.
No account or login required.
The live streaming will start from 6pm on the day.
*On-demand recordings will not be available.
VENUE
For onsite attendance, find us at:
The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Level 4, Central Park
28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW 2008
ADMISSION
Free; no bookings required (excluding wine tasting on February 8)
ENQUIRIES
(02) 8239 0055
reception_sy(A)jpf.go.jp
— Article From THE JAPAN FOUNDATION, SYDNEY
