Oyako Donburi

One of the earliest Japanese foods to be adopted by the American public.

Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur, at their first meeting, at the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, September 27, 1945. By U.S. Army photographer Lt. Gaetano Faillace.

Oyako donburi, sometimes abbreviated oyakodon, translates to “parent-and-child bowl.” Oyako is literally the phonetic name of the kanji representing parent and child relationships, and is even occasionally used as a first name, something akin to naming a child “Love.” In this context, however, it refers to the fowl involved; oyako donburi is a chicken and egg dish.

While we opened Japan to trade in 1854 (something we discussed in the recipe for curried yaki-soba), we didn’t see large segments of the American public with a taste for Japanese food until around the 1950s. That has to do with the Army.

On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered to the Allies. By September, General MacArthur was in charge of Occupied Japan as the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers (well, I guess when you’re already general, you need a heck of a title to consider it a promotion). By the end of 1945, there were 350,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan, and while MacArthur initially forbade the troops to eat any of the scarce food the Japanese had, as Japan rebuilt, soldiers would go off-base to enjoy local cuisine.

Instead, Pacific Stars and Stripes suggested Japanese beef, and had this advice about oyakodon:

Health hazards derived from eating Japanese barnyard fowl are limited to the very real possibility of sustaining cracked dentures and sprained jaw muscles. Boiling in oil may help. Hen eggs are delicious if fresh–and just as safe. The Japanese have concocted a most pleasingly palatable combination of the chicken and the egg and call it “oyako-domburi” or “mother-and-child goulash.” Try it sometime.

 
While the formal occupation ended in 1952, U.S. soliders have been stationed in Japan ever since. Returning soldiers brought back a taste for oyakodon.

Still, acceptance of Japanese cuisine in the military took some time. Here’s a 1957 instructional film from the U.S. Army on Japanese culture for soldiers stationed in Japan. It’s 27 minutes of absolute pure gold and I assure you this is an actual thing. (Appreciate the 11 minute mark video with the voice-over, “Sushi, for example. Boiled rice with a slice of raw fish on it. It tastes like… well, boiled rice with a slice of raw fish on it.” I can’t even find the words to describe the soldier’s face.)

From a box sold in Martinez, California.