Kaki-san, nice essay but I differ with your statements on plant based and vegan diet. The Shojin Ryori temple cuisine is nutritionally excellent, tasty and vegan, for centuries before the term vegan was born. With a plant based diet you can get all nutrients if you can plan well, it is safe, healthy, and you do not have to use meat substitutes.

BTW, thinly sliced meat is also used in doner kebabs of middle East, salami in Europe, and of course in China and Korea as well. Well-written article.