A Brief History of Tofu in Japan

Tofu is a big part of Japanese dining. At our Bellevue Japanese restaurant, you can get your fill of this vegetarian favorite in the form of our delectable agedashi tofu. But where did tofu first come from, and how did it spread so thoroughly across Asia?

Ancient Chinese documents place the creation of tofu in 164 BC. The man credited for its invention is a prince by the name of Liu An. Unfortunately, it was common at this time to attribute significant innovations to prominent political figures, so there’s no telling who the real inventor was. Regardless, it remains clear that the production methods of tofu that are known today were standardized by the second century, BC.

Tofu likely spread from China with the Buddhist movement. Buddhists journeying to Japan needed to introduce a meat-free alternative to protein to their new followers as part of their vegetarian teachings, and tofu was there to fit the bill. This was how Japan first got to know the famous soybean curd, and how it came to the menu of Flo’s Japanese Restaurant today.

Japan’s Star Festival

According to Chinese legends, the seventh day of the seventh month is the day when the stars Altair and Vega are able to surpass the boundaries of the Milky Way and meet. Japan marks this occasion with Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival.

During Tanabata, the people of Japan like to write their wishes on a slip of paper. This paper is then tied to the branches of a bamboo tree, which are erected specially for the occasion. Tradition states that wishes hung in this manner are more likely to come true.

Depending on where you go in Japan, this festival might be held on either July 7th or August 7th, according to whether or not the region adheres to the Lunar calendar. Whenever it is celebrated, it is an occasion for colorful festivities and fun. Come and mark the occasion for yourself at Flo’s Bellevue Japanese restaurant!