Abstract

Why do we eat pigs and whales but not dogs and cats? Kenji Miyazawa’s “Yodaka no Hoshi” and other familiar materials on food, the essay is a creative marriage of contemporary French and Japanese philosophy. This essay is a richly flavored work. A gem that approaches the hidden essence of food.

Reviews
“A light essay based on his own food experiences, but also a tasteful philosophy book that examines the contradictions surrounding food with the spice of deep thought” ―Mainichi Shimbun

“A work that should be read especially by today’s modern people who tend to forget the connection between life and food” ―VEGGY

“A thoughtful and tasteful essay about eating that also includes literary and film works. It is probably one of the most readable of its kind.” ―Yoshio Tsujiyama, bookseller

“The distinction between culture and nature, predator and non-predator, inside and outside the law, human and animal, and the blurring of these boundaries is a bad aftertaste. It is precisely in the realm of these boundaries that this book takes issue.” ―Nozomi Nagata, writer

Author’s Information

Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1964. A philosopher who uses contemporary French thought in all directions to challenge the theory of life, his introduction to thought was through Takaaki Yoshimoto. He also has a deep knowledge of Japanese philosophy, including Shuzo Kuki, Kitaro Nishida, and Tetsuro Watsuji, and wants to delve into the transversality of early 20th century thought. He writes energetically every night from 3am to 6am. Professor at the Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University. Doctor of Literature. If he could only eat one thing before he dies, it would be Sanuki udon. His hobby (or rather, his main occupation) is horse racing. His main works include "Moment and Eternity: Gilles Deleuze's Theory of Time" (Iwanami Shoten), "Gambling/Philosophy of Chance" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), "Children's Philosophy" (Kodansha Sensho Metier), and "Introduction to Deleuze" (Chikuma Shinsho). His major translations include Deleuze's Bergsonism (Hosei University Press, co-translated with Takuya Kobayashi) and Viveiros de Castro's The Metaphysics of Cannibalism (Rakuhoku Publishing, co-translated with Goro Yamazaki).