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Shogun Cuisine Chronicles: A Taste of 17th-19th Century Japan

What was life like for a Shogun, the illustrious ruler of 17th to 19th-century Japan? Well, let's just say it wasn't exactly a culinary adventure fit for a gourmet.

To begin with, Shoguns were the original food critics, but they never dined on anything fresh out of the oven. Extra portions were prepared during each meal, and no less than four brave souls were tasked with taste-testing the dishes for poison. Imagine being a professional food taster, but with a dangerously high-stakes job description.

After a nail-biting hour of poison-checking, the culinary creations embarked on a ceremonial journey across a grand hall to reach the Shogun's chamber. By the time the Shogun finally sat down to enjoy a meal, two hours had wistfully slipped away. Shoguns were, essentially, lifelong aficionados of cold cuisine. 😢

Furthermore, the Shogun was forbidden from leaving a morsel uneaten. To put it more precisely, if the Shogun happened to leave a crumb untouched, the poor chef would find themselves in hot water for failing to appease the Shogun's discerning palate.

Since most Shoguns were considerate souls who understood the dire consequences of not devouring their broccoli or spinach, they valiantly wolfed down everything, regardless of their culinary inclinations 🥦🥬.

The kitchen and castle staff, despite their diligent scrutiny, occasionally found something peculiar in a dish – perhaps an unexpected pebble or even the occasional rat's indiscretion. In such cases, the Shogun would discreetly sweep the matter under the tatami mat, because exposing it would lead to a mass Seppuku buffet – an apology-suicide extravaganza! 😂

Adding to this gastronomic drama, there were solemn days in the castle when meat and alcohol were as elusive as a unicorn. On occasions when ancestral Shoguns, their spouses, or close kin had departed to the great sushi bar in the sky, the castle inhabitants were required to mourn by refraining from indulging in life's culinary pleasures.

Considering that the Tokugawa Shogunate lasted over 260 years, you can imagine the sheer number of ancestors in need of commemoration! By the time of the last Shogun, half the year seemed to be dedicated to mourning days. 😂😂😂

So, here's a mental image of the Shogun, gazing wistfully at his subjects living carefree, foodie lives, with a touch of envy in his samurai soul. 🍣🥂

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Image: Matsumoto-jo Castle in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

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