每日英語跟讀 Ep.946: About Japan -壽司產業是男人天下？日本女師傅走自己的路 | Female chef aims to revolutionize Japan’s restaurant industry

在日本，壽司師傅向來以男性為主，這項傳統時至今日仍深深影響日本。許多餐廳依舊禁止女性站在吧台後、在客人面前製作壽司。

Sushi chefs in Japan have always been men and this tradition continues to dominate. Many restaurants still do not allow women to stand behind the counter and make sushi in front of the customers.

對於Yuki來說，作為一名女性壽司師傅要面對的挑戰從採買新鮮魚貨就開始了。

For Yuki, the challenge of being a female sushi chef doesn’t begin with technique. It starts at the crack of dawn when she heads to the market to buy fish.

在魚市場裡，很少有魚販認真看待她，他們大多認為Yuki做壽司不過是場兒戲，因而對她冷眼相待，甚至拒絕賣魚給她。Yuki很清楚壽司產業對女性不友好的慘酷現實，她承認，不論她如何努力對抗惡意攻擊或刻板印象，她內心始終覺得自卑。

She is often ridiculed by market fish vendors for “playing kitchen” as they refuse to sell her any fish. Yuki recognizes the disheartening and brutal reality of the industry, admitting that while she “fought back against the criticisms and prejudice”, she still “felt inferior in her heart”.

不過，她並沒有因此被擊倒。她相信，只要持續精進自己的手藝，讓自己成為一名富有經驗與技術的壽司師傅，將幫助她成功開一間餐廳，並在壽司產業中開闢出一條屬於自己的道路。

However, Yuki smiles on. She believes that focusing on getting “more skilled and experienced” will help her achieve her goal: making a name for herself & her restaurant.

她期盼，透過開創一種嶄新的握壽司風格、重新定義壽司的極簡美學，能使她贏得尊重，讓大家用和男性同樣的標準檢視她，甚至超越同行的男性師傅。

Yuki hopes to be upheld to the same expectations as men by going above and beyond: innovating a different style of sushi by redefining simplicity.

Yuki表示：「壽司撼動了我的靈魂」，並稱，女性不應該試圖成為男性師傅，而要學會欣賞女性獨有的特質，以新的構思改變壽司產業。

“Discovering sushi shook my soul,” Yuki exclaims. She believes that females should not try to be like male chefs, but celebrate their unique qualities and change the status quo with new ideas.

許多女性壽司師傅都曾嘗試打進這個男性主導的行業，卻都以失敗告終，雖然大多數女性先輩都放棄了，但Yuki的壽司之路還在繼續。

Many female sushi chefs have attempted at breaking into the industry, to no avail. Most eventually gave up, but for Yuki, the battle continues.

日本KitKat推新口味　老外試吃後傻眼：不是抹茶 | Foreigners puzzled at taste of Wasabi-flavored Kit Kats

日本奇巧巧克力(Kit Kat)繼2004年推出抹茶口味掀起風潮後，現在又推出另一款「綠色」巧克力新風味，然而，這次的口味可能沒有之前那麼容易下嚥。

Following the 2004 debut of the “Matcha Green Tea Kit Kat,” Japan has released a second green chocolate combo that will surely challenge customers’ palates: the Wasabi-flavored Kit Kat

據報導，目前雀巢已推出將近350種口味的奇巧巧克力，而背後的主因為日本便利商店需要不斷變動的擺設方式。

According to media reports, Nestle has released over 350 flavors to date, and the main reason behind such a wide variety of products is due to Japanese convenience stores’ constant demand for new items.

為了維持品牌銷售量，便必須不斷想出新口味和新點子；芥末口味的奇巧巧克力就是這麼誕生的。

To keep up, new flavors and ideas are in great need and that’s where the wasabi flavor comes in.

根據日本媒體報導，田丸屋本店是一家位在靜岡縣的芥末專賣店，日本芥末有將近80%都是在此區製作，於是它們和奇巧聯手打造出最能代表當地的口味。

According to local Japanese media, a specialty wasabi shop, Tamaruya Honten, located in the Shizuoka prefecture which produces 80 percent of Japan’s annual wasabi supply, partnered with Kit Kat and created the hybrid local flavor best representing both companies.

至於芥末奇巧巧克力到底好不好吃，外國人也積極參與論戰，許多人表示沒有想像中的嗆辣，也有人說雖然聞起來明顯的是芥末味，但是因為還是有白巧克力，吃起來還是很甜。

As for the million-dollar question of whether people outside Japan find it delicious or not, some described it as not extremely spicy, while others say though the smell is recognizably wasabi, it actually tastes sweet thanks to the white chocolate.

國外網友也在推特上大大讚賞，寫道：「這口味在一般商店買不到，完全值得生氣」。

Westerners also took to complimenting the flavor on Twitter, with one writing, “Yes, you should be mad you can’t find this in a regular store.”

然而也有網友質疑奇巧的最新搭配，並表示這口味他們「先不要」。

However, others seem to question the novel combination, commenting, “Nope. Not touching that with a ten-foot pole.”

Source article: https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200829-1697516 ; https://chinapost.nownews.com/20200901-1700846