I wouldn't describe Crisco as part of any culture's traditional cuisine. Paula Deen once led me to believe that American grandmas use butter. Or was it lard?

I wouldn't describe Crisco as part of any culture's traditional cuisine. Paula Deen once led me to believe that American grandmas use butter. Or was it lard? I don't know any grandmas from Japan, but I doubt they would consider MSG to be a traditional food. Rather, it is an additive that tastes like seaweed. To call it "traditional" in Japanese cuisine would be akin to calling maple flavoring "traditional" in Canadian cuisine.