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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
Shabu-shabuしゃぶしゃぶ 🇯🇵 Japan and 4 moreJapanese hot pot where diners cook thin meat and vegetables at the table Main dish, Dinner, Lunch Boiled egg 🇯🇵 JapanEggs cooked in their shells, with soft or firm yolks Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks DaifukuVegan大福餅 🇯🇵 JapanSmall mochi cakes filled with sweet bean paste or other fillings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Pirozhkiпирожки 🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreYeast-leavened buns filled with sweet or savory fillings, baked or fried Pie or savoury pastry, Lunch, Dinner BaumkuchenVegetarian 🇩🇪 Germany and 7 moreA layered cake baked on a rotating spit, with rings like a tree trunk Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks ShōchūVegan焼酎 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese spirit distilled from rice, barley, sweet potato or other starches Drink UmeboshiVegan梅干し 🇯🇵 JapanSour, salty pickled ume fruit from Japan, often served with rice Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch WagashiVegan和菓子 🇯🇵 JapanTraditional Japanese sweets made with plant-based ingredients and seasonal themes Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Japanese curryMeatカレー 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreA thick, mildly spiced curry sauce served with rice, noodles or bread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Odenおでん 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreJapanese one-pot dish of assorted items simmered in soy-flavored dashi broth Soup, Dinner, Lunch Hot pot火鍋 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSimmering broth at the table for cooking meats, vegetables and more as you eat Main dish, Dinner, Lunch AnpanVegetarianあんパン 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese sweet roll filled with red bean paste or other fillings Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Tangyuan汤圆 / 湯圓 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreGlutinous rice balls, often filled, served in sweet or savory broth Sweet or dessert, Snacks Omuriceオムライス 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreJapanese fried rice wrapped in a thin omelette, often topped with ketchup Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Mapo tofu麻婆豆腐 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreSichuan tofu in a spicy, numbing sauce with fermented beans and minced meat Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Donburi丼物 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese rice bowl topped with simmered meat, fish, or vegetables Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Kouign-amannVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 3 moreBreton pastry of caramelized butter and sugar in flaky layers Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks Teppanyaki鉄板焼き 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreJapanese dishes cooked on a flat iron griddle, often prepared in front of diners Main dish, Lunch, Dinner YōkanVegan羊羹 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreA Japanese sweet block made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks Osechi御節料理 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese New Year foods arranged in tiered lacquered boxes Main dish, Lunch, Dinner TamagoyakiVegetarian卵焼き 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese rolled omelette made by layering seasoned eggs in a rectangular pan Main dish, Breakfast EdamameVegan枝豆 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreYoung green soybeans boiled or steamed in their pods, often served salted Main dish, Snacks, Lunch TsukemonoVegan漬物 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese vegetables preserved in salt, brine, or rice bran Sauce, pickle or ferment, Breakfast, Lunch YakisobaMeat焼きそば 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese stir-fried noodles with pork, vegetables, and savory sauce Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner GalbiMeat갈비 🇰🇷 South Korea and 2 moreKorean grilled beef or pork ribs, often marinated and cooked at the table Main dish, Lunch, Dinner KatsudonMeatカツ丼 🇯🇵 JapanDeep-fried pork cutlet and egg served over a bowl of rice Main dish, Lunch, Dinner CastellaVegetarianカステラ 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreSweet, moist Japanese sponge cake with roots in Portuguese baking Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time KamabokoFish or seafood蒲鉾 🇯🇵 JapanSteamed loaf of seasoned white fish paste, often served sliced in Japanese dishes Main dish Christmas cake 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreCakes served at Christmas, often rich with fruit, nuts or cream Sweet or dessert, Tea time, Snacks California rollカリフォルニアロール 🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreInside-out sushi roll with crab, avocado, and cucumber Main dish Karaageから揚げ 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese marinated and deep-fried bite-sized chicken or fish Main dish, Lunch, Dinner OyakodonMeat親子丼 🇯🇵 JapanChicken, egg, and scallion simmered in broth and served over rice Main dish SōmenVegetarian素麺 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreVery thin wheat noodles served cold or in soup across East Asia Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Beaujolais nouveauVegan 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreYoung red wine from France, released each November just weeks after harvest Drink YakinikuMeat焼肉 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreJapanese grilled meat cooked at the table and dipped in savoury sauces Main dish, Dinner, Lunch ModakVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA sweet dumpling with coconut and jaggery, offered in Hindu and Buddhist rituals Sweet or dessert, Snacks Tofu skinVeganゆば 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreThin sheets formed from the surface of heated soy milk Main dish Nabemono鍋物 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese hot pot dishes cooked and shared at the table Main dish, Dinner 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 Zōni雑煮 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese New Year soup with mochi rice cakes and seasonal ingredients Soup, Breakfast, Lunch AmazakeVegan甘酒 🇯🇵 JapanSweet Japanese drink made from fermented rice, served warm or cold Drink, Snacks Chawanmushi茶碗蒸し 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese steamed egg custard with savoury fillings Main dish Chazuke茶漬け 🇯🇵 JapanCooked rice with green tea or broth poured over and topped with savory garnishes Main dish, Snacks, Lunch Char siuMeat叉燒 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCantonese-style pork, marinated and roasted until glazed and red Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Kushikatsu串カツ 🇯🇵 JapanDeep-fried skewers of meat, seafood, and vegetables from Japan Street food, Lunch, Dinner KakigōriVegetarianかき氷 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese shaved ice dessert topped with sweet syrups and often condensed milk Sweet or dessert, Snacks Chankonabeちゃんこ鍋 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese one-pot stew packed with protein, favored by sumo wrestlers Stew or curry, Lunch, Dinner SakuramochiVegetarian桜餅 🇯🇵 JapanSweet pink mochi filled with red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
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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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