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Yuchi, a native of Taiwan and my dance partner, is an enchanting person with a dazzling smile that contrasts with her "cool" dance performances. I had the opportunity to talk with her about a traditional food that holds a special place in her memories.
In Taiwan, every April, there is an event called "Qingming Festival" where people honor their ancestors. During this season, a staple dish for family gatherings is "Runbing." It's a traditional food made by wrapping cold ingredients in a thin crepe-like skin, and it's cherished as a dish that signals the arrival of spring.
The preparation involves spreading a crepe-like skin with powdered peanuts mixed with sugar, then adding shredded carrots, cabbage, fried noodles, pork, omelet, and other ingredients before wrapping it all up. Since the ingredients can be freely chosen, it allows for customization to suit the preferences of the person eating it.
By preparing the ingredients together as a family and wrapping them individually, a natural atmosphere of joy and laughter is created at the dining table. "When I was a child, I disliked vegetables and would only put a lot of peanut powder in the skin," Yuchi reminisces with a laugh. "Sometimes, I'd end up making a mess of it." Her memories are undoubtedly filled with warm times spent with her family.
Ingredients can be customized to your liking.
This custom not only strengthens family bonds but also plays a role in passing down traditional culture to the next generation. There are increasingly more restaurants in Japan that offer Taiwanese cuisine, so if you get the chance, definitely give it a try.
HSU YUNG-CHI
Nickname: Yuchi
3rd-year student, College of Asia Pacific Studies
(Published in the morning edition of the Oita Godo Shimbun on February 24, 2025)
Based on a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Oita Godo Newspaper, since January 2022, Student PR Assistants (SPA) have been contributing their interviews with international students to the life and culture section of the newspaper’s morning edition. SPA will introduce different cultures and the interesting topics they raise from an authentic, student perspective. These student writers take this opportunity to get the newspaper’s readership and students interested in the world. They also aim to improve their skills with the aid of professional editors.
Hello, everyone! My name is Mizuho, and I am a 4th year student in the College of Asia Pacific Studies. My hobbies are dancing, getting in touch with nature, and playing with animals! I used to do aikido, so I'm strong! :) I hope to interact with many people through SPA activities!
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