Food for Communication: Depicting the Role of Food in Japanese Television Drama Grand Maison Tokyo

Abstract

Popular culture exerts a profound and pervasive influence that extends into the realm of food, profoundly shaping our individual perceptions, representations, and our very social fabric. This research aimed to explore the cultural representation of Japanese cuisine within the television (TV) series Grand Maison Tokyo. The study is composed of two key components: a comprehensive literature review and in-depth data analysis. The literature review closely examined academic sources, relevant scholarly works, and previous studies focused on the portrayal of food in popular culture, Japanese gastronomy, and the cultural elements present in TV dramas.

The data analysis investigated the role of food as a communicative and expressive medium and evaluated the representation of Japanese food culture and its integration with French culinary traditions within the TV series. This analysis employed semiotic and reflexive thematic approaches. The data sources encompassed academic journals, books, TV programmes, and grey literature.

The main themes identified from the data are: 1. Food as a medium of communication and expression, encompassing “Struggle and Perseverance,” “Talent and Limitation,” “Redemption and Resilience,” and “Love and Passion.” 2. The integration of French and Japanese cuisine, highlighted by “The Tasting Menu” and “Culinary Beliefs.”

A semiotic lens is applied to analyse the dialogues and scenes from 11 episodes of Grand Maison Tokyo. The findings reveal that food serves as a powerful element in TV dramas, engaging viewers in gastronomy and allowing them to experience different cultures through food. It also helps viewers connect with nostalgic and emotional experiences. Through food, TV dramas create a deeper engagement, making the narratives more relatable and immersive.