The puzzles it gets us to pose for ourselves concern basic questions about human existence and the meaning of life. One reads Genji Monogatari much the way one reads Kierkegaard, Dostoyevsky, de Beauvoir, Sartre, or any other literary existentialist philosopher: there is a story (in Murasaki’s case, many stories within stories), and the story leaves us puzzled in a peculiarly philosophical way. In this essay, however, I will focus on the metaphysical and epistemological aspects of her work, paying particular attention to existentialist issues. Murasaki deserves comprehensive analysis regarding each of these areas of philosophy. What it recounts is of philosophic importance for aesthetics, moral philosophy, philosophy of religion, cosmology and, metaphysics. Rather, it takes the form of an epic novel. Just like the passersby outside, tonight it’s all about the show.Genji Monogatari by Murasaki Shikibu (970–1031) is a work of philosophy which does not follow the traditional western format for philosophical writing: discussion, analysis, exposition, perhaps dialogue. It’s a polished performance with eggs landing whole, implements finding hands to catch them, and a piece of food landed in the most exposed cleavage – all in good fun. The diners lap up each trick, the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ punctuating conversation as we watch the aerial acrobatics and cheer the chef along. Our chef is concentrating, not cracking a smile, as he slices, dices, flips and catches. At Murasaki the portions are generous and there are lots of seats around the teppan. It’s fresh food that many of us enjoy and great entertainment as well. Yes, it is pretty healthy, with meat and vegetables cooked on a hot grill with not too much fat. And third, you eat with stomach or whole body, which means good for your body … healthy.” (Quoted by Jamie Chase, The 247.com) Second, you eat with tongue, meaning it tastes good. “The way Japanese food is presented, the showy things or appearance is with this thought: We eat three times … first, we eat with the eye, meaning the appearance (of the food). ![]() Over the years, the theatrical elements have increased to include juggling of cooking utensils, tossing eggs into their hat, slicing eggs into the audience, and setting alight a tower of onion rings – burning Mount Fuji. In 1964, Rocky Aoki, founder of the popular restaurant chain Benihana, brought this form of tabletop cooking to the United States. It was more popular with foreigners than Japanese, not only for the spectacle, but also for the barbequed meat. While the concept of preparing food as it is eaten is not new to Japanese, neither is cooking food on a grill, however teppanyaki, Japanese styled Western food, was only introduced to Japan soon after the World War II. There’s a bit of the ‘multi-Asia’ feel to the chefs’ nationalities, but of course teppanyaki isn’t Japanese anyway! And so the show begins… On three sides of a U-shaped bench three chefs work on separate teppan grills. The raw food is brought out on trays to be cooked on the grill plate in front of us. Drinks flow and we gear up for a lively evening. ![]() We decide on the full caboodle, with seafood, chicken and steak, our only moderation being steamed rather than fried rice. We’re seated facing the teppan, backs to the street, as our orders are taken and we settle into the evening’s business. It’s a passing parade of sex on legs, a seeming competition of the shortest and briefest attire on a brisk spring night. ![]() Outside us on the corner, a live music duo pump out a lively beat as the miniskirts on stilts prance past. Japanese fits well – rice is OK, and teppanyaki fulfils the entertainment criteria. It’s Friday night and the family’s in town, one of them gluten intolerant. Murasaki is one of the most popular teppanyaki restaurants in Broadbeach, conveniently located plump in the middle of the action on the corner of Surf Parade and Victoria Street.
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