“Washoku” traditional Japanese cuisine has been added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.“Washoku” is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes ; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients.
Side dishes often consist of fish,pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or in sushi.
What is the typical eating habit of the Japanese?
Japanese eating habits have become quite diverse, with a lot of changes it has gone through because of westernization. One of the major changes is the introduction of bread. Many people eat bread, egg, milk, and drink coffee or tea for breakfast.
Decades ago, salaried workers often took packed lunches to work, but nowadays any kind of dish ranging from Western food to Japanese food is available in restaurants near office buildings.
Most elementary and junior high schools have school lunch programs, offering well-balanced meals in sometimes eclectic varieties.
Dinners served at home are also diverse, including dishes of Japanese, Chinese and Western cooking. A typical dinner consists of rice, soup, and several dishes containing meat, fish, and vegetables.
Generally speaking, children prefer western food such as hamburgers to traditional Japanese dishes, and many households are inclined to cater to their tastes.
Anyway, I’ll show you some strange traditional culture concerning the meal that foreign people will feel interesting (^ ^)
1. Bonenkai Parties ☆
Bonenkai are Japanese office parties held in December. The term literally means “forget the year party.” Most companies hold at least one. In many cases they are held at the company, department and team levels.
People also have bonenkai with friends. All of these parties make it difficult to get reservations at popular izakaya in December. 😄
2. Mamemaki Bean Throwing
Setsubun is a Japanese holiday celebrated on the eve before spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. It’s traditionally believed that the spirit world comes close to our world at this time and that demons are likely to appear.
On Setsubun, parents throughout Japan put on an oni mask and try to scare their kids. The kids in turn throw roasted soybeans to scare the demon away.
3. Ehomaki Sushi Rolls
Ehomaki are a Setsubun tradition that involves eating an entire uncut roll of sushi while facing a lucky direction that changes each year.
This was once only practiced in Osaka but has spread nationwide in recent years due to the marketing efforts of Japanese convenience stores. Eating ehomaki is an auspicious activity that’s done in complete silence.😊
4. Mochi Making
Mochi are rice cakes traditionally made by pounding a variety of rice known as mochigome with a large wooden mallet. The result is a paste that’s formed into shapes such as blocks. Mochi are an ingredient in a wide variety of simple foods and are extremely popular. Much like bread, it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t like mochi.
Factory produced mochi and mochi-making home appliances are widely available. However, many families enjoy making it the traditional way for special occasions such as New Years.
5. Slurping noodles is not only seen as polite — but it also means you have enjoyed your meal♡
Slurping is considered polite in Japan because it shows that you are enjoying your delicious noodles — in fact, if you don’t eat loudly enough, it can be mistaken as you not enjoying your food.
Slurping noodles is not entirely for the sake of politeness, but also to avoid having a burnt tongue. Japanese soup and noodles are generally served steaming hot — hot enough to burn — and slurping helps to cool down the food.
But unlike in some other Asian nations, it is still considered rude to belch at the table. 😃
Ramen noodles are a popular food in Japan and it is widely believed extensive training is required to make a delicious soup broth. This is the subject of the movies Tampopo (1985) and The Ramen Girl (2008).
6. KFC On Christmas Eve
The Japanese are familiar with the western custom of eating a turkey dinner for Christmas. However, turkeys are difficult to find in Japan and most ovens in Japanese apartments and homes are too small for a turkey. As a substitute, many people prepare a roast chicken dinner instead.
It’s also remarkably popular to eat KFC on Christmas Eve. There are long queues at every KFC in the country on this day. Naturally, KFC encourages this with intensive marketing and Christmas themed sets.😀
7. Japan loves coffee♡
Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica’s annual coffee production.
8. Pouring you own glass is considered rude
It is customary in the US (and many other countries in the world) to serve others before you serve yourself, but in Japan you are never supposed to pour yourself a drink.
If you have poured for others, another guest will hopefully see that your drink is empty and pour for you. You must also always wait for someone to say “Kanpai” (cheers) before drinking.☺️
1. Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan.
2. A nice musk melon may sell for over $300US. For example, a nice specimen of Yubari melon. These are often physically perfect, not like their American counterparts with dark smudges and scars.
3. Sumo wrestlers eat a stew called Chankonabe to fatten up. Many restaurants in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo serve this nabe (Japanese word for stew).
4. Vending machines in Japan sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, and other items.
5. In Japan it is not uncommon to eat rice at every meal, including breakfast.
6. On average, it takes about 7-10 years of intensive training to become a fugu (blowfish) chef. This training may not be needed in the future as some fish farms in Japan are producing non-poisonous fugu.
7. Tsukiji market in Tokyo is the world’s largest fish market.