In “Fast Food and Intergenerational Commensality in Japan: New Styles and Old Models,” John W. Traphagan and L. Keith Brown use ethnographic observation to analyze the Japanese reception of the prevalence of McDonald's in Japan, taking into account the ethnic backgrounds and cultural contexts of subjects and informants. Critics argue that McDonald's invasion poses a threat to traditional eating habits in Japan; however, few attempt to examine the underlying reasons for Japanese diners' attraction to McDonald's. The authors argue that, rather than abruptly intruding into Japanese culture, McDonald's naturally gains popularity among local customers due to its exemplification of deeply rooted Japanese values ​​of commensality. To confirm their belief, the authors collected data using free lists, interviews, or simply practicing naturalistic observations in several Japanese cities including Mizusawa, Morioka and Tokyo. The authors found that Japan had its own fast food culture for a long time, as early as 1899, when a Japanese food chain, Yosh...