Japan: Difference between revisions

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== Acknowledgements ==
== Acknowledgements ==
This page was prepared by using some information from [http://vegan.wikia.com/wiki/Japan vegan.wikia.com] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine en.wikipedia.org].
This page was prepared by using some information from [http://vegan.wikia.com/wiki/Japan vegan.wikia.com] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine en.wikipedia.org].
[[Category:Asia]]

Revision as of 05:59, 23 February 2013

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Japanese cuisine is based on combining staple foods, typically Japanese rice or noodles, with a soup and okazu — dishes made from fish, vegetable, tofu and the like – to add flavor to the staple food. In the early modern era ingredients such as red meats or diary that had previously not been widely used in Japan were introduced. Japanese cuisine is known for its emphasis on seasonality of food, quality of ingredients and presentation. Japanese cuisine offers a vast array of regional specialties that use traditional recipes and local ingredients.

Strictly vegetarian food is rare since even vegetable dishes are flavored with the ubiquitous dashi stock, usually made with katsuo (dried skipjack tuna), and are therefore pescetarian more often than carnivorous. An exception is shōjin-ryōri (精進料理), vegetarian dishes developed by Buddhist monks. However, the advertised shōjin-ryōri at public eating places may include some non-vegetarian elements.

In general, veganism does not have a large following in Japan, and many people do not know its exact meaning. When ordering food in a non-vegan place one has to make sure to clearly explain what ingredients should not be used. Simply asking for vegan or strictly vegetarian food can often lead to misunderstandings.

Eating out

It is relatively easy to find vegan places in big cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto (check each citie's page for a list of restaurants). Non-vegan restaurants (with the exception of Indian ones) usually have very poor selection of vegan dishes. It is almost imposible to find vegan food in cheap Japanese fast-food places that serve curry or ramen because curry has meat or lard in it, and ramen is made with fish stock. However, one can always try negotiating with the staff. Sometimes they take "vegan challenge" and agree to veganize some dishes.

Buying food

Most Japanese supermarkets have a variety of basic staple foods suitable for vegans, such as beans, rice, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. One can also find whole sections dedicated to tofu, soy milk and natto (fermented soy beans). At least basic ability of reading Japanese is needed in order to buy something with an ingredient list and to be sure it is vegan. There are many cases when even simple rice crackers have fish sauce or something else non-vegan in them.

There is a chain of health food shops in many large cities called Natural House that sell organic products.

Things to keep in mind

  • Words "meat" or "fish" are often understood in Japan as big peaces of meat or fish. Therefore it is suggested to ask more specific questions, such as "do you use fish/meat stock", etc. when ordering food.
  • Almost all miso soup contains fish stock or other animal products. Fish stock can be substituted by mushroom or seeweed stock, and some restaurants can do that when asked.
  • Udon (wheat noodle) and soba (buckwheat noodle) places are ubiquitous and appear hopeful but the stock (dashi) almost always contains animal products. It is possible to request just plain noodes and add your own ginger, shoyu (soya sauce) etc.
  • Almost all tempura is fried in the same oil as animal products. Tempura batter may also contain egg.
  • Traditional Japanese sweets are largely vegan, especially those made with mochi (sticky) rice and aduki bean paste. Also included are warabe mochi, made from a fern root, and kanten (a jelly made from seaweed gelatin). However, some sweets contain milt (the seminal fluid of fish) which is called shirako ir Japanese.

Useful Japanese

Japanese use Chinese charakters (kanji) and their own two alphabets for writing. It can be very usefull to learn at least the most common kanji that indicate non-vegan ingredients, although one has to keep in mind that sometimes they might be written in alphabet.

Meaning Pronunciation Kanji (alphabet)
Meat
Pork
Beef
Chicken
niku
buta niku
gyu niku
tori niku
肉(にく)
豚肉(ぶたにく)
牛肉(ぎゅうにく)
鶏肉(とりにく)
Fish
Fish stock
Dried fish flakes
sakana
katsuo dashi
魚(さかな)
鰹だし(かつおだし or カツオだし)
鰹節(かつおぶし)
Egg tamago 卵(たまご)
Milk
Butter
gyunyu
bata
牛乳(ぎゅうにゅう)
バター
Gelatine zerachin ゼラチン
Honey hachimitsu 蜂蜜(はちみつ)

Basic phrases:

  • watashi wa veegan/bejitarian desu. ––– I'm vegan/vegetarian.
  • _____ o taberaremasen. ––– I don't eat ______.
  • kore wa veegan desu ka? ––– Is it vegan?
  • kore wa ____ ga haitemasu ka? ––– Does it include _____ (e.g. meat, milk, etc.)?
  • ____ ga arimasu ka? ––– Do you have ______?
  • ____ nuki de dekimasu ka? ––– Can you make it without _____?

Links

Acknowledgements

This page was prepared by using some information from vegan.wikia.com and en.wikipedia.org.