Hidehiko Ishizuka of “Honjamaka” reveals the little-known roots and meaning of “mai-ai

Not “good” but “thank you

Good day, everyone. No matter how happy you are, if you suddenly skip a step, you will get hit in the knee. This is Hidehiko Ishizuka.

This time, I would like to talk about “mai-ui. First of all, when was the word “maiu” born? Actually, it was not created by myself or Mr. Papaya Suzuki. It has its roots in the old entertainment industry, in other words, in “industry jargon.

Once, when I was working with Mickey Curtis, a senior staff member at my office, on the set of a TV drama, he treated me to lunch. When I took a bite of the food and said “maiyoo,” Mickey laughed and said, “That brings back memories!

How could I have said “mai-ai” in front of someone who could be called the master of “mai-ai”? It was like talking about “what manga is” in front of Osamu Tezuka. My face turned red. I called a cab “shi-tak” and a sushi “shi-su. Sushi is shi shi. Hotel is “Teruho. If you want to know more about industry terms, ask Hideyuki Nakayama.

Next, let’s talk about how I and Papaya Suzuki-san came to use “maiu”.

A long time ago, Papaya, Mayumi Kawai, and I co-starred in a TV program. Ms. Kawai, who was supposed to be a cheeky celebrity, used the word “maiu”. After that, the three of us got together and started saying “maiu” whenever we ate something.

At that time, I used “maiu” simply to mean “delicious,” but as I worked as a gourmet reporter for a long time, the meaning of “maiu” changed in my mind. I used to use the word “mai-ui” when something was really “delicious,” but it is no longer the only word I use.

In my work as a gourmet reporter, I often visit the restaurants themselves, but I also have to interview the producers of the foodstuffs that lead up to the restaurant. In the process, I have come to learn about the hardships faced by the producers. In the case of rice, I experienced everything from rice planting to harvesting. Since it was a TV shoot, it was only a few hours of experience, but even so I was drenched in sweat and lightly hurt my back.

There are rice fields that can be worked by machine, but if the entire field is small and on a mountain slope, everything is planted by hand and harvested by hand. This is something that would make an old lady’s back bend. She also checks the enormous number of vegetables and fruits by eye every day, and harvests them one by one by hand.

We were also allowed to visit the fishing port. We set out early in the dim morning, lifted the nets amidst incredible turbulence, and removed the fish from the nets to be sorted. In the quiet harbor, smiling wives greet the men as they return. Every day they risk their lives.

Raising cattle, pigs, and birds is also hard work. Study after study is done to create the best feed and exercise them. Some farmers even play music to relax them.

When asked, many of the farmers and fishermen said, “I haven’t been on vacation for a while. Using the work of these people who risked their lives, the chefs also risked their lives to create the best dish. When you know the hard work and efforts of so many people, “maiu” is not just “good,” but “thank you.

When you enjoy a meal, please do not forget to express your gratitude. Mai-u” means “thank you. A signboard is a letter of thanks.

From “FRIDAY” December 13 and 20, 2024