Cuisines of the World Part Three
~ Japan ~
By: Adrienne White
Date: Spring 2025
Cuisine isn’t simply food. It isn’t just the thing you have to put into your body for fuel and it should never be a chore or something you dread. Cuisine is an experience, life-changing in itself. This experience can vary not only from person to person, but from place to place. So, over the span of this series we will be taking a deep dive into the diverse cookery around the world.
It is a common misconception that many of the foods we have everyday originated right here in the US. Even though, a lot of these foods were first discovered in Japan. One of the first types of food to become a Japanese staple was rice. This seemingly plain yet extremely versatile grain was found in just about every household from the time of its first cultivation over 2000 years ago. It was once used as currency and is of such great importance that the word for cooked rice (gohan) has become synonymous with the general meaning of meal.
If there was one food that simply screams Japanese cuisine, it would have to be sushi. A base of seaweed wrapped fish that gets coated with sticky rice and dipped in an assortment of sauces. This unique dish utilizes the plentiful fish population in Japan. Salmon, tuna, mackerel and yellowtail are among the types of fish made into some of the most unique rolls. According to the School of Sushi article ‘Top Ten Most Popular Sushi in the United States 2025’, some of the most common rolls are the California Roll (base with crab meat, avocado and cucumber), the Philadelphia Roll and The Rainbow Roll (an assortment of salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and avocado rolls).
The final and most underappreciated chapter of Japanese cuisine would have to be the rather underground culture of vending machines and convenience stores. While in America, vending machines and convenience stores are seen as a bare necessity in most public spaces, Japan uses theirs as innovative food sources. The Raarup Adventures article ‘17 Coolest Vending Machines in Tokyo’ shares an inside look at some of the strangest vending machines. Any food you can imagine – from a banana machine to a canned bread machine – can be found in Japan, available to the general public. Convenience stores also offer a wide variety of items such as fresh seafood or pancakes in bags.
Many people oversimplify Japan to be a sushi and ramen-loving country, when in reality it is full of some of the most creative types of food in the world. No matter what kind of food you decide to try in Japan, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
My Sources:
RICE
SUSHI
https://schoolofsushi.com/discover-the-top-ten-most-popular-sushi-in-the-united-states-in-2023/
https://mountainplums.com/blog/a-guide-to-japanese-fish-marine-delights-the-nippon-way/
CONVENIENCE STORES & VENDING MACHINES
https://www.raarupadventures.com/blog/17-coolest-vending-machines-in-tokyo-2023
https://japan-forward.com/exploring-our-backyard-finding-the-best-vending-machines-in-tokyo/ (photos)