A Clever Date for Dressing Day

Among the anniversaries and commemorations on August 24th annually, is Dressing Day ドレッシングの日 in Japan. It was created by a Tokyo based company, Kenko, known for their mayonnaise and dressing products. They created the day to promote the versatility of mayonnaise and highlight new and creative ways to use dressing beyond traditional salad toppings.

What strikes me about this anniversary is how they came up with the date to use for it. They chose August 24th because on a traditional weekly calendar, August 24th sits above August 31st, and August 31st is Vegetable Day in Japan! I thought that was very clever. But they also thought it was good time of year for the anniversary, when many people enjoy salads due to a decrease in appetite from the relentless heat. 

There are many different types of dressings available in Japanese supermarkets. I think the range is much larger here than in my home country. In recent years, dressing has evolved beyond salads and is now commonly used for flavoring many dishes too. Such as pasta sauce, marinade and general seasoning, reflecting its growing and diverse use in modern cooking.