[ISSUE5] Food

• The act of eating is an essential part of human daily life. During the development of the act of eating within given natural environments, unique cultures have formed through the inter-regional exchanges brought about by the movement and migration of humans, since ancient times. With the rapid progress of globalization and information technology, food culture has now expanded into every corner of the world, transcending all existing boundaries and thereby creating a new history. At the same time, some people are suffering from hunger while others tackle the problems associated with obesity. Safety and distribution have become global issues with regard to food. What roles should academic studies play in these issues? At Ritsumeikan University, researchers from a range of fields are tackling food and its culture in their research.