The Fantastic History Of Food

30 - Japan's Accidental Killer Rice

The Fantastic History Of Food

Show Notes

In the late 1800s in Japan, there was a disease that seemed to target not just inner-city dwellers in Edo, what we know as modern-day Tokyo, but it affected mainly the upper classes. Not even the emperor and his family were immune to this slow, agonizing disease that saw people waste away in front of their loved ones. It would be a few years until the true culprit was discovered and it would throw Japanese culture into a frenzy when the cause was found to be none other than their beloved, white rice. ------------------- Please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/foodhistorypod and get early access to episodes, and bonus content. Find transcripts and sources on the website: www.foodhistorypodcast.com ------------------- Huge thanks to BetterHelp for sponsoring this episode. Get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor and signing up at BetterHelp.com/listener ------------------- Shout out to Pair.com for sponsoring this episode When you sign up with Pair Networks, you’ll receive one free month of web hosting. See for yourself how easy it is to build your website for free! Visit Pair.com/free to get your first month of website hosting for free by using the code QUICKSTART.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-fantastic-history-of-food--3591729/support.

Thank you to my all of my supporters!

You can also support me over on Patreon starting from just $2 a month: patreon.com/foodhistorypod

More from The Fantastic History Of Food

Oct 23, 2026

Mithridates has claimed his throne, built a reputation for being remarkably difficult to poison, and made himself one of Rome’s most determined enemies. Now the Romans are coming to deal with him.

Oct 9, 2026

After surviving months of fighting, starvation and freezing mountain passes, thousands of Greek soldiers finally stumble across something worth celebrating: an enormous supply of free honey.

Sep 11, 2026

There are probably very few people listening to this podcast who don’t already know at least some of the story of the Titanic.

Aug 28, 2026

In Georgian Era London, some of Britain’s most powerful men formed an exclusive dining club devoted almost entirely to eating enormous steaks, drinking heavily and celebrating the virtues of beef.

Aug 14, 2026

In the 1880s, Henry Friend claimed he had invented a secret electrical process that could revolutionise the sugar industry.

See all episodes →