Japan Food REPACK

While Japanese cuisine is often condensed into a few dishes (such as sushi and ramen) outside of the country, the wide range of options and the culinary precision at play on the island produce impeccable foods that satisfy all elements of dining. Not only are they flavorful and fresh, but the local diet is also very healthy, BBC Good Food reports. Low rates of cardiovascular disease and obesity, paired with long life expectancy, suggest Japanese food has benefits. The dietary lifestyle and traditional dishes are highly respected within the country and they have officially been acknowledged worldwide. Washoku, the customs involved with the preparation and enjoyment of locally sourced food, was recognized by UNESCO in 2013 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

History and tradition aside, Japan has a bustling culinary scene and it is regularly listed as one of the best food countries in the world (via CNN Travel). Chefs are known to have a special love affair with the country's cuisine, and Today's World Kitchen breaks it down to the skilled artistry, minimalism, high-quality ingredients, and density of Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo. Nevertheless, there's no need for fine dining to have an exceptional Japanese meal. The following list highlights 20 Japanese dishes that are worth a taste.

Japan Food

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Sushi on the other hand actually translates as vinegared rice, according to Sushi FAQ, but the term now encompasses far more. At its most basic, the rice is paired with raw seafood and rolled up in seaweed for easy handling. However, anyone who's been to a sushi restaurant can attest to the fact that the possible add-ins are almost limitless. While many of the rolls popular outside of Japan can hardly be considered authentic, extras such as fish roe, egg, and vegetables are all possible accompaniments for the raw fish. For the full experience, pair your sushi with pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce.

If you can read Japanese, then you'll know that yakitori means grilled bird, according to Food in Japan. Nowadays, the term can be used to describe different skewered meats and vegetables cooked on a grill, although chicken is the most common version of the dish. In fact, yakitori made from chicken offal have traditionally been predominant, though thanks to the sweet soy and mirin glaze commonly used, you probably wouldn't even notice. Other styles of yakitori are simply seasoned with salt, and plenty of regional variations exist. Aside from all things chicken, other typical ingredients include pork, mushrooms, leek, and even seafood.

The skewers are a staple street food snack, which the Michelin Guide indicates has been the case since the late 19th century. As well, Yakitori-ya restaurants that specialize in the grilled snacks are popular with the after-work crowd looking for a quick bite over a pint of beer (via Japan-Guide). Yakitori is also easy to find in izakayas, pub-style restaurants serving small plates. Whether you order a couple of skewers or a dozen, yakitori always makes for a satisfying bite.

Commonly referred to as octopus balls, takoyaki is a tasty street food you have to try. Octopus meat usually seasoned with pickled ginger and green onions is coated in a wheat flour batter shaped into a ball, Food in Japan explains. Next, the spheres are grilled in a special pan that consists of rounded indents to hold the balls. The cooked balls are topped with takoyaki sauce (a sweet and salty condiment akin to Worcestershire), Japanese mayonnaise, and dried bonito flakes (fish flakes).

While you might not associate curry with Japan, food writer Morieda Takashi notes that most Japanese people eat the dish weekly, regularly listing it among their favorite foods (via Japan Quarterly). Anthropology professor Dr. Merry White tells Vice that curry ended up in Japan via the British Navy, who brought their own version of the Indian dish in late 1800s. Curry gained popularity as it was easy to prepare for large groups, and eventually pre-made curry mixes were sold for quick home cooking (via Vice). Often labeled as golden curry, they are available in supermarkets in the U.S. Compared with typical Indian curries, the Japanese style is thicker, sweeter, and rarely spicy (via Japan-Guide).

The most direct translation of donburi is a bowl, and that's exactly what you'll get. Thankfully, the bowl isn't empty, and Japan-Guide explains that it generally contains a base of rice with popular toppings such as chicken, beef, breaded pork cutlets, raw seafood, grilled eel, eggs, and tempura. For example, katsudon refers to a pork cutlet bowl, and gyudon, one of the more typical options, is a beef bowl. Extra add-ons can vary widely depending on the style of don and whether or not the chef is exploring creative options, but contrasting flavors such as pickled ginger or daikon radishes are common. A sugar, soy sauce, mirin, and dashi-based sauce is often used to season the contents of the bowl (via Live Japan).

The dish is simple, straightforward, and one of Japan's takes on fast food. According to Tokyo Spark, donburi has been around since sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries, and it shows no sign of disappearing thanks to its practical format. The source remarks that chopsticks or a large spoon are both acceptable utensils to consume this dish, so start here if your chopstick technique is a bit rusty.

What meat lover doesn't enjoy fried chicken? Japanese karaage is a delicious version of the classic comfort food, popularized after the second world war (via Japan Experience). As cheap and easy meals were encouraged to feed families on small budgets, chicken made its way to front and center. Karaage isn't just any fried chicken as the meat is first marinated in soy sauce, sake, mirin, garlic, and ginger, assuring a juicy result, 196 Flavors explains. Then, the meat is battered with flour and potato or corn starch and deep-fried for extra crispiness.

You don't have to go to Japan to experience the delight of teppanyaki. In metropolitan areas worldwide, restaurants specializing in the traditional method of cooking food on a large iron plate can be found. In fact, Taste Atlas points out that although the preparation existed earlier, the first teppanyaki restaurant opened in Japan in 1945, and just under 20 years later, a similar establishment was opened in New York City.

The source explains that teppanyaki means iron plate grill, which is the basis for a wide range of foods prepared this way. Whether it's meat, seafood, vegetables, or noodles, the food is cooked on an iron plate by your table, giving the consumer front row seats to the show. It's worth mentioning that Umami Insider indicates the performative aspect of teppanyaki is far more common in the U.S., and restaurants providing a similar experience in Japan have a heavy Western influence. In fact, the original Japanese teppanyaki restaurant Misono owed its formula to the American soldiers stationed in Kobe at the end of World War II, per Japan Today. Think of it as the ultimate grilled meal highlighting East meets West.

There's no shortage of warm comforting dishes in Japanese cuisine, and shabu-shabu is high on the list. Great Taste notes that like various foods in Japan, the origins stretch back to a Chinese dish. According to Live Japan, the hot pot preparation is often made at home, since once you have the right equipment it's incredibly straightforward. You'll mainly need a large pot that fits plenty of broth, thin slices of meat, and vegetables. Beef and pork are common but other proteins like tofu or seafood can also be prepared, Great Taste indicates. As for the broth, the source points out that miso, lemongrass, mushroom, and kelp are all up for grabs, making the variations endless.

Yakiniku captures a wide range of items, per its translation meaning grilled meat (via South China Morning Post). Its post-World War II origins come from Western barbecue traditions as well as Korean grilled specialties like bulgogi and galbi. Designated yakiniku restaurants offer a ventilated setting to enjoy the delight of barbecue flavors. Quality is of prime importance, and wagyu beef is prioritized above all types of meat. Still, you'll find plenty of other options like short ribs, sirloin, tongue, sausage, chicken, pork, lamb, seafood, and vegetables (via Tokyo Restaurants Guide).

Hamburgers might not be the first dish that comes to mind when you think of Japanese cuisine, but the Asian country does have its own fusion rendition. Originating from a tradition of combining Western and Asian cuisine, hambgu is not quite your average fast food burger. Its name may be derived from the word hamburger, but it's presented as hamburger steak.

Japan is divided into distinct geographic regions, each of which has developed its own unique culinary traditions. As a result travelers can encounter a diverse set of regional foods as they move from area to area.

This report is an overview and update of Japan's food and agricultural import regulations and standards (FAIRS). For more information on Japan's certification requirements, see the FAIRS Export Certificate Report for Japan.

Unique and beguiling, Japan is a country of binaries. It straddles both the traditional and ultra-modern, with buzzing cities alongside stunning natural landscapes. Its food is famously nutritious, with a diet based around super-fresh, seasonal products. We've picked 10 dishes to seek out when visiting.

These traditional sweets are the jewels of Japanese food culture. The wagashi (Japanese sweets) category is incredibly broad, basically referring to all regional, seasonal, and commonplace traditional Japanese sweets. Starting off in ancient times as very basic creations of mochi rice cakes (a sticky dough made from steamed and crushed rice) that were filled with nuts, these sweets evolved into ornate delicacies made to accompany the traditional matcha green tea ceremonies of the Edo period.

A Japanese home-cooking staple, omurice is a comfort food that evokes childhood. Made with ketchup fried rice blanketed in an eggy omelet and decorated with a cute ketchup message or design, omurice is a favorite among children and nostalgic adults alike. Check out our omurice recipe to learn how to make this fun Japanese dish for yourself! e24fc04721