【Reading】みらい

【English Name】Taste Buds

Mirai (taste buds) refers to the sensory receptor organs of taste distributed over the mucous membranes of the tongue and soft palate. In humans, the entire tongue is said to be equipped with roughly 10,000 taste buds, which also play a central role in perceiving the delicate flavors of sushi.

The protrusion structures covering the surface of the tongue are collectively called papillae, classified into four types: fungiform papillae, filiform papillae, foliate papillae, and circumvallate papillae. However, the filiform papillae differ from the others in that they contain no taste buds.

The "taste map" claiming that "the taste perceived differs by region of the tongue" is a widely known folk belief, but in reality every taste bud can respond to any taste quality, and sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and bitterness are all perceived in any region of the tongue. The origin of this misconception is thought to lie in a paper published in German by Dr. Hanig in 1901, which became globally established through a work in which Edwin Boring of Harvard University translated and cited it into English in 1942.

Smoking, drinking, habitual consumption of spicy foods, and aging are known as major factors that impair the function of the taste buds. To fully enjoy the delicate flavors unique to sushi, keeping one's taste buds healthy on a daily basis is essential.