Food - what is it about Japanese food?

What is it really about Japanese food? My son seems to like it. Bring him to a proper restaurant, and he will eat like you wished he'll eat every day -- so heartily. He'll eat the rice, and his piece of grilled salmon, or grilled cod. He'll eat the chawan mushi, and the pieces of tofu. Then the mom will feel like, "Ah, at least he has really eaten." Yup, he'll eat his food in the feeding chair till he falls asleep. Washoku food - he loves. Yoshoku food - well, if it's name is burger. MacDonald's - he'll eat the bun and leave the patty.

Malaysian food? Does he eat as well? Yes, satay, pandan leaf chicken, teriyaki grilled chicken, or yakitories.... yup. Steak... not so keen. But nikujaga (beef with potatoes), yes. so what is it about a kid's tongue that he will eat a mjority of japanese food, but not others... sigh. Looks like the mom has to learn how to cook food in this manner for economical reasons, definitely.

So, what is it about Japanese food, that even a well-known nuritionist will recommend for her young daughter. So far my beef stew also has not been "laku" or well accepted.. sigh.

Here's an interesting and funny article from ivillage, about how a mom got her son to eat his food. Will it work for our little boy as well? hahahahaha.
http://www.ivillage.com/clean-plate-chronicles-how-i-got-my-son-eat-basics/3-a-142433?dst=blogher,ntwk_hdln,040810,fd,getchildtoeat