The 21st of September was ‘Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)’ this year in Japan. It was one of the National Holidays for showing our respect and care for elderly people.

Bento on ‘Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)’

We ordered some Bento from a well known restaurant for my mother on ‘Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日)’. The Bento was particularly planned for elderly people with the idea of  1. Easy to eat  2. with good source of various nutrients and  3. of course it had to be good quality food. We made a clear soup called ‘O-suimono‘ to go with it.

The ingredients and decoration was made in an Autumn theme. The amount of food was just enough ‘Hara Hachibunme (腹八分目）’ (‘Hara’=stomach, ‘Hachibunme’=80%) for us. It means moderate eating up to 80 percent in stomach is the key for a healthy life.

The rice was seasonal ‘Matsutake-Gohan’ which is the rice cooked with precious mushroom ‘Matsutake‘ (the dearest mushroom in Japan with a wonderful intense scent and flavour which comes out only in Autumn) with Hida Beef steak on top. Other food includes grilled fish, fried prawn, Tofu-based food and vegetable etc.

My mother had some sparkling Sake so I had to have some chilled Sake with the food, of course by hoping a good health and happy life for my mother!

It was a nice meal! Thank you.