Product Description

What if there were a land where people lived longer than anywhere else on earth, the obesity rate was the lowest in the developed world, and women in their forties still looked like they were in their twenties? Wouldn't you want to know their extraordinary secret?

Japanese-born Naomi Moriyama reveals the secret to her own high-energy, successful lifestyle–and the key to the enduring health and beauty of Japanese women–in this exciting new book. The Japanese have the pleasure of eating one of the most delicious, nutritious, and naturally satisfying cuisines in the world without denial, without guilt…and, yes, without getting fat or looking old.

As a young girl living in Tokyo, Naomi Moriyama grew up in the food utopia of the world, where fresh, simple, wholesome fare is prized as one of the greatest joys of life. She also spent much time basking in that other great center of Japanese food culture: her mother Chizuko's Tokyo kitchen. Now she brings the traditional secrets of her mother's kitchen to you in a book that embodies the perfect marriage of nature and culinary wisdom–Japanese home-style cooking.

If you think you've eaten Japanese food, you haven't tasted anything yet. Japanese home-style cooking isn't just about sushi and raw fish but good, old-fashioned everyday-Japanese-mom's cooking that's stood the test of time–and waistlines–for decades. Reflected in this unique way of cooking are the age-old traditional values of family and the abiding Japanese love of simplicity, nature, and good health. It's the kind of food that millions of Japanese women like Naomi eat every day to stay healthy, slim, and youthful while pursuing an energetic, successful, on-the-go lifestyle. Even better, it's fast, it's easy, and you can start with something as simple as introducing brown rice to your diet. You'll begin feeling the benefits that keep Japanese women among the youngest-looking in the world after your very next meal!

If you're tired of counting calories, counting carbs, and counting on being disappointed with diets that don't work and don't satisfy, it's time to discover one of the best-kept and most delicious secrets for a healthier, slimmer, and long-living lifestyle. It's time to discover the Japanese fountain of youth….


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #156060 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-26
• Released on: 2006-12-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
It's well known that Japanese women have the lowest obesity rate in the industrialized world (3%) and the highest life expectancy (85 years), and that their cuisine is based on simplicity. Tokyo native Moriyama puts a human face on this phenomenon, that of her mother, Chizuko, in this well-organized, persuasive introduction to a non-Western everyday cooking plan. Just as Moriyama reconstructed Chizuko's cooking practices for herself and her coauthor husband, Doyle (Inside the Oval Office), she shows readers the elements of Chizuko's 6'×12' Tokyo kitchen. She details its pantry ingredients, including bonito (fish) flakes and daikon (radish) and tools such as a rice cooker and wok. Most recipes are based on at least one of the "seven pillars"—fish, vegetables, rice, soy, noodles, tea, fruit—and are familiar and easy to make (Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, Teriyaki Fish, etc.). Cooking tips abound, but what adds a French Women Don't Get Fat angle is the useful eating advice, such as "Hara hachi bunme," or "Eat until you are 80 percent full." It's a call for moderation that occurs throughout other cultures, and if it's the Japanese version that speaks to readers, good for Moriyama.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Granted, it's a catchy, if hyperbolic, title. The pop culture tone continues through this introduction to Japanese history and cooking, though its overmodulated recording and padded content may drive even the best-intentioned listener to binge on American junk food. While coauthor and reader Moriyama's accent is mild and her delivery upbeat, production problems render this an irritating listen. You'll hear lots of interesting and valuable information, but, unless you have a notepad handy throughout, it's almost useless--so this is a better book in print than on CD. Furthermore, this concept is in need of remastering and a good editor. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"For weight loss, I recommend Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat ... One-upping a certain French woman who boasted about staying thin, Moriyama reveals seven secrets of how Japanese women avoid adding pounds and prolong their life." -- goodhousekeeping.com

"Thanks to Moriyama and Doyle, readers can learn from an insider raised in Japan. . . . Even the most hesitant readers will find their passion for the wonderful taste and aroma of Japanese dishes irresistible." -- The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"This is a dietary plan that is based on sound science and offers straightforward dietary advice that works. There are plenty of tempting recipes, too." -- American Dietetic Association Spokesperson: David Grotto, RD

"A DELICIOUS WAY TO STAY HEALTHY." -- Washington Post

It's well known that Japanese women have the lowest obesity rate in the industrialized world (3%) and the highest life expectancy (85 years), and that their cuisine is based on simplicity. Tokyo native Moriyama puts a human face on this phenomenon, that of her mother, Chizuko, in this well-organized, persuasive introduction to a non-Western everyday cooking plan. Just as Moriyama reconstructed Chizuko's cooking practices for herself and her coauthor husband, Doyle (Inside the Oval Office), she shows readers the elements of Chizuko's 6'×12' Tokyo kitchen. She details its pantry ingredients, including bonito (fish) flakes and daikon (radish) and tools such as a rice cooker and wok. Most recipes are based on at least one of the "seven pillars"--fish, vegetables, rice, soy, noodles, tea, fruit--and are familiar and easy to make (Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, Teriyaki Fish, etc.). Cooking tips abound, but what adds a French Women Don't Get Fat angle is the useful eating advice, such as "Hara hachi bunme," or "Eat until you are 80 percent full." It's a call for moderation that occurs throughout other cultures, and if it's the Japanese version that speaks to readers, good for Moriyama. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. -- Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews

Absolutely delicious!
I have no ties with Japan whatsoever; I am a fully Western, European American. I started to read this a couple of weeks ago, only getting halfway through and then deciding that even though it sounded great, it was too intensive for me to focus on right now: shopping for the unfamiliar ingredients and trying to cook foods that are totally new to me was a daunting prospect.

But as the week went on, I kept thinking about all the flavors she described in such luscious detail and I couldn't get them out of my head. So I decided to dive on in. I finished the book and went shopping -- at an Asian Market, an organic foods market and the local grocery store -- and was able to find everything I needed.

I am a pretty experienced cook so decided to go ahead and try the full-out dinner meal of soup, rice and three other dishes. Wow, what a project! As I was making it, the kitchen looked like a tornado had hit it, and it took me 2 hours to make the meal. I usually only work that hard for a meal on Thanksgiving day! And as I saw each dish take shape, I really didn't know what to expect as far as taste was concerned; I was very skeptical (not least because I have never been a big fan of seafood or tofu).

But when my husband and I finally sat down to eat, I was pleasantly surprised to find that each dish was extremely good and the overall experience was wonderful, like dining at a high-end gourmet restaurant. And we had that lingering 'cleansed' feeling afterward that only comes from eating really good, hearty, simple, healthful food. We were both hooked! (See the picture I took of the meal in the customer images section of this product page!)

Next time, he's going to help me make the meal so hopefully it won't take so long. And since it's just the two of us I probably don't need to do that many dishes each time and I can halve the recipes.

I don't think I will go so far as to switch to Japanese cooking as my main type, but it has definitely widened my pool of food options and also has motivated me to stick with much more healthy recipes of any origin.

Besides the fact that the food is as good as the author claims, I really liked that the book also described Japanese history and culture; it was a very interesting read just for those reasons too.

Great books
This book is full of great history, advice and delicious recipes that are easy to make. Its worth checking out.

Interesting but somewhat obvious
I'm not sure what I was expecting. On the one hand it's interesting to read her comments on her own experiences having changed cultures and lived in both Japan and the USA. On the other hand, the entire book can be summed up as: eat more rice and fish, preferably with Japanese seasonings.

So if your just looking for some light reading on the musings of a Japanese woman living abroad, you'll enjoy this. But don't expect any magic secrets here on weight loss.

Though if you have no clue what constitutes Japanese seasonings, I suppose some of her lists might be of additional value to you.