Ryori

Ryori ("cuisine" in Japanese) is a stop-motion animated film that depicts an Ojizo statue (guardian of the wayside) coming from within the forest to have a shojin ryori meal. Shojin Ryori is the traditional dining style of Buddhist Monks in Japan -- the cuisine is made without meat, fish, or other animal products. Ryori animates the process of cooking with elements of change in nature, so as to highlight the link between cuisine and the environment. The ingredients of a Shojin Ryori meal are based on the idea of balance. The rule of five is created between five colors and flavors in a meal: green, yellow, red, black and white as well as sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. This balance in color and flavor is believed to provide nutritional balance, while also bringing the body into balance with the seasons.