Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Thanks to Hungry Minds for sponsoring this video! Grab your copy of The Last Book here: mdsh.io/thelastbook, and use promo code BIRCHWOODBOOK for 10% off! What would you write in your diary as the last earthling? Let me know in the comments!
In this episode of the historical food week series, I’m adventuring into late Edo-period Japanese commoner food!
Credits: Camera assistant for sponsorship outdoor scenes: Eva Snijders
Research consultant: Sarah Prince, researcher at University of St Andrews
All other pre-production, production, and post-production roles were done by V. Birchwood
🕯 Support my art on Patreon - patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries - sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Further Reading:
Koten Rakugo Taikei (8 volumes); edited by Shigeru Ekuni, Nobuyuki Onishi, Hiro
Nagai, Seiichi Yano and Junichi Mita; San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd., 1969
Edo Jutaku Jijo; Hisako Katakura, editorial supervision by Tokyo Metropolitan
Archives; Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 1990
Edo Machibure Shusei Vol. 1–19; edited by Kinsei Shiryo Kenkyukai; Hanawa
Shobo, 1994–2003
Kinsei Fuzoku-shi (5 volumes); Kitagawa Morisada, revised by Hideki Usami;
Iwanami Shoten, 1996–2002
Rakugo ni Miru Edo no Shokubunka; edited by the Institute for the Culture of Travel;
Kawade Shobo Shinsha, Publishers, 2000
Nihon Shokumotsu-shi; Ayako Ehara, Naoko Ishikawa and Shoko
Higashiyotsuyanagi; Yoshikawa Kobunkan, 2009石毛直道, & イシゲナオミチ. (2019). The history of food culture exchange for long-term periods: Japan as an example. Senri Ethnological Studies, 100, 11-22.
Vaporis, Constantine N. "Caveat Viator. Advice to Travelers in the Edo Period." Monumenta Nipponica (1989): 461-483.
tokyofoundation.org/research/detail.php?id=242
sengokudaimyo.com/rm-about
sengokudaimyo.com/rm-ch7
https://guides.lib.ku.edu/c.php?g=1239199&p=9068794
tokyoweekender.com/food-and-drink/how-to-taste-japanese-food-as-it-was-prepared-centuries-ago
kenji-world.net/english/download/works/Rain.html
tokyoweekender.com/food-and-drink/how-to-taste-japanese-food-as-it-was-prepared-centuries-ago
archive.org/details/ukiyoburo00shikuoft/page/12/mode/2up
kikkoman.com/jp/kiifc/foodculture/pdf_1920/e_010_016.pdf
kikkoman.com/jp/kiifc/foodculture/pdf_12/e_002_006.pdf
japannakama.co.uk/food/edo-period-japanese-food-culture
researchgate.net/figure/Beekeeping-in-the-Edo-period-using-Japanese-honeybees-Apis-cerana-japonica-From-Noted_fig1_342473268
dl.ndl.go.jp/view/download/digidepo_9551733_po_NDL-Newsletter191_911.pdf?contentNo=1&alternativeNo=
bebeloveokazu.com/2010/03/29/tororo-yamaimo
recipes.hypotheses.org/tag/edo
https://museumcollection.tokyo/en/works/6449349/
edohakuarchives.jp/detail-30352.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame_ni_mo_makezu
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu_Hyakuchin
To access the original Tofu Hyakuchin in Japanese:
dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/2536494/1/1
Image Sources:
Select imagery supplied by Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons, and others.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Khalili_Collection_of_Kimono_K100.jpg
researchgate.net/figure/Beekeeping-in-the-Edo-period-using-Japanese-honeybees-Apis-cerana-japonica-From-Noted_fig1_342473268
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tatar_people%D1%8B1862.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1849_Japanese_Map_of_Edo_or_Tokyo,_Japan_-_Geographicus_-_Edo-tokyo-1849.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kunisada-woman-blackening-teeth.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shika-no-Makifude_17th.jpg
edohakuarchives.jp/detail-30352.html
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bento_at_Hanabishi,_Koyasan.jpg
Blue Lotus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ame_ni_mo_makezu_poem_in_Miyazawa_Kenji%27s_pocket_notebook.jpg
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/closeup-of-freshly-caught-sardines-on-ice-at-the-fish-stockfootage/1318833635
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/group-of-mackerel-fish-stockfootage/2204300626
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/smoked-sprats-in-oil-close-up-stockfootage/1190331960
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/drops-of-water-fall-on-fresh-vongole-filmed-on-a-high-stockfootage/1966170736
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tohu100.jpg
dl.ndl.go.jp/en/pid/2536494/1/2
Featured Music:
Roie Shpigler - Kumiko
Isaku Kageyama - Aizu Bandaisan
Isaku Kageyama - Sohma Bon Uta
Roie Shpigler - Hikaru to Shine
Max H. - Back Home
Borrtex - Reflections
Isaku Kageyama - Yagi Bushi
Isaku Kageyama - Tokyo Ondo
Idokay - Ichi-no-Tani
Idokay - Shi ga futari o wakatsu made
Isaku Kageyama - Tanko Bushi
Tomo Suzuki - Koto Story in Kyoto
Thanks to Hungry Minds for sponsoring this video! Grab your copy of The Last Book here: mdsh.io/thelastbook, and use promo code BIRCHWOODBOOK for 10% off! What would you write in your diary as the last earthling? Let me know in the comments!
In this episode of the historical food week series, I’m adventuring into late Edo-period Japanese commoner food!
Credits: Camera assistant for sponsorship outdoor scenes: Eva Snijders
Research consultant: Sarah Prince, researcher at University of St Andrews
All other pre-production, production, and post-production roles were done by V. Birchwood
🕯 Support my art on Patreon - patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries - sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Further Reading:
Koten Rakugo Taikei (8 volumes); edited by Shigeru Ekuni, Nobuyuki Onishi, Hiro
Nagai, Seiichi Yano and Junichi Mita; San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd., 1969
Edo Jutaku Jijo; Hisako Katakura, editorial supervision by Tokyo Metropolitan
Archives; Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 1990
Edo Machibure Shusei Vol. 1–19; edited by Kinsei Shiryo Kenkyukai; Hanawa
Shobo, 1994–2003
Kinsei Fuzoku-shi (5 volumes); Kitagawa Morisada, revised by Hideki Usami;
Iwanami Shoten, 1996–2002
Rakugo ni Miru Edo no Shokubunka; edited by the Institute for the Culture of Travel;
Kawade Shobo Shinsha, Publishers, 2000
Nihon Shokumotsu-shi; Ayako Ehara, Naoko Ishikawa and Shoko
Higashiyotsuyanagi; Yoshikawa Kobunkan, 2009石毛直道, & イシゲナオミチ. (2019). The history of food culture exchange for long-term periods: Japan as an example. Senri Ethnological Studies, 100, 11-22.
Vaporis, Constantine N. "Caveat Viator. Advice to Travelers in the Edo Period." Monumenta Nipponica (1989): 461-483.
tokyofoundation.org/research/detail.php?id=242
sengokudaimyo.com/rm-about
sengokudaimyo.com/rm-ch7
https://guides.lib.ku.edu/c.php?g=1239199&p=9068794
tokyoweekender.com/food-and-drink/how-to-taste-japanese-food-as-it-was-prepared-centuries-ago
kenji-world.net/english/download/works/Rain.html
tokyoweekender.com/food-and-drink/how-to-taste-japanese-food-as-it-was-prepared-centuries-ago
archive.org/details/ukiyoburo00shikuoft/page/12/mode/2up
kikkoman.com/jp/kiifc/foodculture/pdf_1920/e_010_016.pdf
kikkoman.com/jp/kiifc/foodculture/pdf_12/e_002_006.pdf
japannakama.co.uk/food/edo-period-japanese-food-culture
researchgate.net/figure/Beekeeping-in-the-Edo-period-using-Japanese-honeybees-Apis-cerana-japonica-From-Noted_fig1_342473268
dl.ndl.go.jp/view/download/digidepo_9551733_po_NDL-Newsletter191_911.pdf?contentNo=1&alternativeNo=
bebeloveokazu.com/2010/03/29/tororo-yamaimo
recipes.hypotheses.org/tag/edo
https://museumcollection.tokyo/en/works/6449349/
edohakuarchives.jp/detail-30352.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame_ni_mo_makezu
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu_Hyakuchin
To access the original Tofu Hyakuchin in Japanese:
dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/2536494/1/1
Image Sources:
Select imagery supplied by Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons, and others.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Khalili_Collection_of_Kimono_K100.jpg
researchgate.net/figure/Beekeeping-in-the-Edo-period-using-Japanese-honeybees-Apis-cerana-japonica-From-Noted_fig1_342473268
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tatar_people%D1%8B1862.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1849_Japanese_Map_of_Edo_or_Tokyo,_Japan_-_Geographicus_-_Edo-tokyo-1849.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kunisada-woman-blackening-teeth.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shika-no-Makifude_17th.jpg
edohakuarchives.jp/detail-30352.html
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bento_at_Hanabishi,_Koyasan.jpg
Blue Lotus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ame_ni_mo_makezu_poem_in_Miyazawa_Kenji%27s_pocket_notebook.jpg
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/closeup-of-freshly-caught-sardines-on-ice-at-the-fish-stockfootage/1318833635
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/group-of-mackerel-fish-stockfootage/2204300626
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/smoked-sprats-in-oil-close-up-stockfootage/1190331960
https://www.gettyimages.nl/detail/video/drops-of-water-fall-on-fresh-vongole-filmed-on-a-high-stockfootage/1966170736
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tohu100.jpg
dl.ndl.go.jp/en/pid/2536494/1/2
Featured Music:
Roie Shpigler - Kumiko
Isaku Kageyama - Aizu Bandaisan
Isaku Kageyama - Sohma Bon Uta
Roie Shpigler - Hikaru to Shine
Max H. - Back Home
Borrtex - Reflections
Isaku Kageyama - Yagi Bushi
Isaku Kageyama - Tokyo Ondo
Idokay - Ichi-no-Tani
Idokay - Shi ga futari o wakatsu made
Isaku Kageyama - Tanko Bushi
Tomo Suzuki - Koto Story in Kyoto
