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Thali

🇯🇵 The food of Japan

142 dishes from Japan, best known first, across 49 cities and regions.

Japanese cooking centers on rice, seasonal produce, and seafood, with a focus on subtle flavors and careful presentation. Meals are built from small, separate dishes, often including pickles, soup, and sides. Over centuries, influences from China and the West have shaped the cuisine, but it remains distinct in its restraint and respect for ingredients.

  • Rice, fish, and seasonal vegetables are core to every meal.
  • Sushi began as a way to preserve fish by fermenting it in rice.
  • Japanese etiquette includes saying 'itadakimasu' before eating.
  • Each dish is served separately to keep flavors distinct.
  • Meat became common only after the 19th century.

The cooking of Japan

Japanese food is shaped by the country's geography and history. Rice is the foundation, often served with miso soup and a variety of small side dishes. Fish, both cooked and raw, is central, reflecting Japan's island setting. Techniques like grilling, simmering, and deep-frying (as in tempura) are common, but oil and strong spices are used sparingly. Meals highlight the seasons, with ingredients chosen for freshness. Over time, dishes from China and the West, such as ramen and curry, have been adapted to local tastes. Presentation matters: each dish is served separately, often in its own bowl or plate.

Staple foods in Japan

Steamed white rice is the mainstay, eaten at nearly every meal. Noodles like soba (buckwheat) and udon (wheat) are also popular. Fish and seafood, grilled or raw, are common sources of protein. Soybeans, in forms like tofu and miso, are widely used. Pickled vegetables and seasonal greens round out meals. Meat became more common after the 19th century, with dishes like tonkatsu (breaded pork) and sukiyaki (beef hotpot).

From region to region in Japan

Regional cooking in Japan reflects local climate and history. In Kagoshima, pork is traditional, while beef is found in Oumi. Some areas, like Suwa, have customs involving deer. Sushi styles also vary by region, with some places favoring fermented versions and others preferring fresh. The use of certain ingredients, such as specific fish or vegetables, can differ widely from north to south.

At the table in Japan

Meals are served with rice on the left and soup on the right, with side dishes behind. Each food is placed in its own dish to keep flavors distinct. Chopsticks are used, and it's customary to say 'itadakimasu' before eating and 'go-chisō-sama deshita' after. On tatami floors, shoes are removed, and diners may sit kneeling or cross-legged, depending on formality and gender.

Festival and religious food in Japan

During New Year's, special feasts may include foods reflecting both Japanese and Western traditions. Some regions have rituals involving animal sacrifice for Shinto ceremonies. Historically, Buddhist influence meant that meat was avoided during certain periods, shaping festival foods to focus on fish and vegetables.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Japanese cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Japan

Tokyo 11Osaka 6Hokkaido 4Nagasaki 4Nagoya 4Fukuoka 2Ginza 2Kansai 2Kyushu 2Ōita Prefecture 2Wakayama 2Yokohama 2Akashi 1Akita 1Amagasaki 1Asakusa 1Chiba 1Fukui 1Hamamatsu 1Hiroshima 1Ise 1Izumo 1Izushi 1Kagawa Prefecture 1Kagoshima Prefecture 1Kantō 1Kitakata 1Kitakyushu 1Kobe 1Minabe 1Miwa 1Morioka 1Nagano Prefecture 1Nakatsu 1Nara 1Narita 1Okinawa 1Ryōgoku 1Saitama City (Urawa) 1Sakurai 1Shiga Prefecture 1Shimane 1Tōhoku 1Tottori 1Tsuchiura 1Ueno 1Usa 1Yanagawa 1Yokosuka 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
Naanनान 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLeavened flatbread baked in a tandoor or on a pan, soft and spotted with golden brown Bread, Lunch, Dinner Soy milkVegan豆奶 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA plant-based drink made by soaking, grinding, and boiling soybeans Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Miso soup味噌汁 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese soup of miso paste and dashi stock, often with tofu and seaweed Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Fried rice 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCooked rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, meat or seafood, and seasonings Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Congee粥 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreRice simmered in water to make a soft, comforting porridge Main dish, Breakfast, Dinner NattoVegan納豆 🇯🇵 JapanSticky, fermented soybeans often eaten with rice at breakfast in Japan Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Baozi包子 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSteamed wheat buns filled with meat or vegetables, common across China and beyond Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks Jiaozi餃子 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreChinese dumplings with meat or vegetable filling, served boiled, steamed or fried Dumpling, Breakfast, Lunch Boiled egg 🇯🇵 JapanEggs cooked in their shells, with soft or firm yolks Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks UmeboshiVegan梅干し 🇯🇵 JapanSour, salty pickled ume fruit from Japan, often served with rice Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch TamagoyakiVegetarian卵焼き 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese rolled omelette made by layering seasoned eggs in a rectangular pan Main dish, Breakfast TsukemonoVegan漬物 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese vegetables preserved in salt, brine, or rice bran Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch Zōni雑煮 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese New Year soup with mochi rice cakes and seasonal ingredients Soup, Breakfast, Lunch Tamago kake gohan卵かけご飯 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreCooked rice mixed with raw egg and soy sauce, a classic Japanese breakfast Main dish, Breakfast Shumai烧卖 / 燒賣 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings filled with seasoned meat, often served as dim sum Dumpling, Breakfast, Lunch Pineapple bunVegetarian菠蘿包 🇭🇰 Hong Kong and 3 moreA sweet bun with a crunchy, golden cookie crust, popular in Hong Kong Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Tea time Fried bread 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreSlices of bread fried in fat or oil until crisp and golden Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Cruller 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreDeep-fried twisted or ring-shaped pastry, often topped with sugar or icing Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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