The 65-year-old cooking show “Kyo no Ryori,” or “Today’s Cooking,” in Japan has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running culinary program, broadcaster NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) said.
Since its inception in 1957, it has featured about 46,600 recipes, often reflecting the zeitgeist of the times from economic downturn to women’s empowerment, according to Agence France Press (AFP).
“‘What should I cook for dinner tonight?’ is, I think, the perpetual question for everyone,” chief producer Mayumi Yanai told reporters during a ceremony in Tokyo. The show aims to “answer that question sincerely and align itself closely to our family audience,” she said.
Its first episode in 1957 introduced Western-style curry with oysters, as a time when one in four Japanese people were said to struggle with malnourishment.
The global oil crisis of the 70s also influenced the show, which responded by coming up with an array of low-budget recipes for its audience in a financial bind.
In the 80s, when more women began joining the workforce, the show shifted focus to meals that can be whipped up quickly, while also highlighting themes such as “men’s dishes”.
