The Gyoza Era and Memories of Manchuria: Post-Imperialism in Japan After World War II

Abstract

References to gyoza appear in Japanese literature from the late seventeenth century, with Shimazu Shigehide, lord of the Satsuma domain, recognized as the first recorded person to have consumed gyoza in Japan. The term “gyoza,” pronounced differently from modern Chinese, is believed to have originated from the Japanese who encountered the Shandong Province dialect, prevalent among immigrants in Manchuria, namely, Northeast China. After World War II, gyoza not only invoked nostalgia among repatriates, aiding in emotional recovery from wartime defeat, but also gained widespread popularity as an economical, flavorful, and nutritious dish. However, individual memories of gyoza varied significantly based on the perspectives of the former Japanese Empire’s influence in Manchuria and China’s decolonization under the Communist regime. Many long-established gyoza establishments that are still operational have connections with repatriates from Manchuria. The association with Manchuria was prominently emphasized when gyoza was utilized for town revitalization.

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