Skip to main content

Japanese Cuisine Guide: A Famous Food Culture That Still Surprises

From elegant nigiri sushi to rich bowls of pork-laden ramen, Japanese food has become famous throughout the world. But Japanese cuisine is far more than sushi and ramen. Cuisine in Japan is incredibly diverse, emphasizing both seasonality and quality of ingredients. Food in Japan can be light and refreshing, evidenced by tsukemono (pickled vegetables) or buckwheat soba noodles. It can rich and hearty, like Japanese fried chicken or curry. An island nation famous for seafood, Japan also produces some of the best beef in the world.

Related Guides

Recommended Videos

Washoku: Traditional Japanese Cuisine

Nishimuraya Kinosaki Onsen/Flickr

Traditional Japanese cuisine is known as Washoku (meaning ‘harmony’ and ‘to eat’). Washoku’s philosophy focuses on the harmony of ingredients that’s both visually appealing and nutritious. Washoku centers on the classic staples of Japanese cuisine: rice, seafood, ocean vegetables like kombu kelp, pickles, and seasonal vegetables.

Washoku is a relatively modern classification. Coined in the Meiji Period (1868-1912) of Japan’s modernization from its isolated feudal period, Washoku was created as a classification to distinguish itself from the new incoming cultural influences. As Japan modernized, its cuisine changed rapidly, creating many of its now best known international dishes.

The International Influences on Japanese Cuisine

Despite Japanese cuisine’s reputation for tradition and authenticity, the cuisine contains an array of influences from other cultures. Yakiniku, the table-side meat barbecue that’s become a staple of life in Japan, is a derivative of Korean barbecue, brought to Japan by Korean migrants. Tempura was adapted from frying techniques introduced by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century. Ramen was created in Japan by Chinese immigrants and did not reach widespread popularity until after World War II.

An interesting factor about traditional Japanese cuisine is its lack of meat consumption. Wagyu beef might be famous currently, but for centuries, meat eating was a strict taboo in Japan. This was the result of Emperor Tenmu in 675 A.D., a devout Buddhist who passed a decree banning beef, horse, dog, chicken, and monkey consumption. Buddhism, which came to Japan from China, considered meat eating “unclean” and “corrupt.”

Yoshoku: Western Food

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In contrast to Washoku is Yoshoku (western food). This classification of food features dishes with European origins that appeared in Japan after its modernization in the late 19th century. Many of the most popular Japanese dishes are Yoshoku: fried pork tonkatsu cutlets, Japanese curry, hambagu steak, croquette and omu-rice (fried rice covered by a soft egg omelette). Japanese curry arrived in the island via the British, who through their colonization of India had integrated their own version of curry into the British national diet.

Although these dishes might have origins in European cuisine, Yoshoku has become an integral part of Japan and is considered by most Japanese to be a fundamental part of their cuisine.

Chuka: Chinese Food

Image used with permission by copyright holder

China is Japan’s largest historical culinary influence, giving the island rice, soy sauce and tofu, all critical elements of Japanese cuisine. Buddhism was also imported from China, which was the foundation for Japan’s centuries-long meat taboo.

Japan has its own native style of Chinese food, with dishes like Hiyashi Chuka (a cold noodle dish with meat and vegetables) and Ebi Chili (a shrimp dish in a spicy and sweet sauce) that also appears in China. Many of the most prominent Japanese dishes are Chinese in origin, including karaage (Japanese fried chicken), gyoza (fried dumplings) and ramen.

Seasons and Regions 

Jingisukan lamb barbecue in Hokkaido, Japan. pelican/Flickr

Japanese cuisine places a huge emphasis on seasonal eating. Most restaurants and grocery stores in Japan will heavily feature dishes depending on the changes of the season. For instance, fish like sea bream reaches its peak in spring and will be a widely featured ingredient during that season. Even sake has seasons, such Hiyaoroshi and Akiagari sake, which is considered a fall specialty.

Regions are another rich factor in Japanese cuisine. The Japanese are intensely proud of their regional foods and it’s common for Japanese tourists to visit areas solely for the local delicacies. Regional foods can be quite different. For most of Japan, lamb is rare. But in the northern island of Hokkaido, locals commonly eat a style of lamb barbecue called jingisukan, named after the Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan.

Shokunin: The Art of the Artisan

Image used with permission by copyright holder

To truly understand Japanese cuisine, it’s important to recognize the concept of shokunin. Defined as artisan, the true meaning of the word is deeper, akin to “the pursuit of perfection.” Central to this concept is a philosophy of life where one continuously strives for perfection. To be a shokunin is as much a spiritual journey as a physical one. The shokunin pursuit can be seen in countless examples, ranging from the world-class knife makers of Japan to the infamous sushi chef Jiro Ono of Jiro Dreams of Sushi.

Tori Kara-age (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Jin Kemoole/Flickr / Flickr

(By chef and cookbook author Tadashi Ono)

Tadashi Ono is a celebrated chef who has won praise for both his Japanese and French cooking in The New York Times, Gourmet, Food & Wine, and other publications. Born and raised in Tokyo, Tadashi began training as a chef at the age of sixteen. Throughout his career, he has worked at restaurants such as Le Petite Chaya, L’Orangerie, and La Caravelle. After spending 9 years as the executive chef of La Caravelle, one of America’s top French restaurants, Tadashi felt the pull of his Japanese cooking roots and opened up the fine dining restaurant Sono. In 2003 he launched Matsuri, where he introduced vibrant, modern Japanese cooking to wide acclaim. Tadashi is also the co-author of “Japanese Hot Pots,” and “The Japanese Grill,” (Ten Speed Press).

Ingredients: 

  • 1 lb. boneless chicken leg meat, cut into bite-sized pieces ( about 1.5 inch cubes)
  • 2 tsp, grated garlic
  • 2 tsp, grated ginger
  • 2 tbsp, soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp, sake
  • 1/4 tsp, white pepper (ground)
  • 3 tbsp, Japanese mayonnaise
  • 1 cup, flour
  • 1/2 cup, potato starch
  • 1 quart, vegetable cooking oil
  • 2 tbsp, sesame oil
  • 4 pieces, lemon wedge

Method:

  1. In a bowl, place chicken, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sake, and white pepper. Mix well.
  2. Add mayonnaise to chicken mixture and mix. Set aside and marinate for 15 minutes. The addition of Japanese mayonnaise makes the chicken extra juicy and moist.
  3. In another bowl, mix flour and potato starch. Sit aside.
  4. In a pot, add cooking oil and heat to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Once temperature has been reached, add sesame oil to the preheated cooking oil. Sesame oil gives an enhanced fragrance to the chicken.
  5. Coat chicken pieces one by one with the flour mixture.
  6. Cook the chicken in oil for about 3 minutes. Once done, take the chicken pieces out and set aside.
  7. For the second fry, heat the cooking oil up to 356F. Place chicken pieces back into oil and cook for another 1 minute. This second frying process will give the fried chicken a crispier coat.
  8. Take out chicken pieces. Serve with lemon wedges.

Read more: Japan Travel Guide

Topics
Hunter Lu
Hunter Lu is a New York-based food and features writer, editor, and NYU graduate. His fiction has appeared in The Line…
At 25, He Rescued an NYC Deli So He Could Share Lebanese Food With the World
Edy's Grocer Outside Facade

Edouard Massih's story is an inspiring and ongoing one, all the more so in a decidedly fractured America. Born in Lebanon, Massih landed with his family in the states when he was ten. Just fifteen years later, he would become the owner of a thriving Brooklyn food business that dabbles in the dishes he grew up with.

Edy's Grocer, however, did not just come into existence. For years, the Greenpoint shop was known as Maria's Deli, beloved by many and run by the eponymous Polish owner in a predominately Polish part of the neighborhood. Maria Puk launched the joint in 1978 at the tender age of 24. By 2020, with the pandemic asking dramatic questions of small business owners, Puk decided to move on.

Read more
Takibi Portland Will Combine Camping and Japanese Cuisine
takibi portland restaurant camping cuisine 1

While restaurants brace for a long and painful quarantine period, it’s nice to distract ourselves with some good news, even if it’s a few months out.
One of the more interesting restaurant openings in the country was set to take place this spring in Portland. Named Takibi, it’s an unexpected union between a Japanese outdoors brand (Snow Peak) and a restaurant. While delayed as a result of the current uncertain circumstances, the restaurant still hopes to open sometime in July.
Takibi is notable even within the culinary-rich Pacific Northwest landscape: The eatery combines a Michelin-recognized chef in Alex Kim with cocktail guru Jim Meehan. Kim has logged hours in some of the finest restaurants on the planet, from Kajitsu and Rintaro in the U.S. to Kappo Sakamoto and Kikunoi Honten in Japan. Meehan is largely considered to be the most influential cocktail writer of his generation, with books, bars, and mixology products to his name.

If glamping had its own cuisine, this might be it. At the core of the culinary style is “takibi” itself, which translates to bonfire in Japanese. The idea is that the food will be shared and as for the flame, inspired by a nifty Snow Peak gadget of the same name. Per Japanese culture, it’s clean, cool, and aesthetically pleasing. While American cookouts tend to be draped in sauces and wet naps, this version feels neater, tidier, and more artistic.
Chef Kim says that what inspires him most about Japanese cuisine is its depth. “There are almost endless facets,” he says. “So it’s always exciting to me because there will always be something to learn. I was always inspired by its simplicity and timeless quality, and the fact that it is a cuisine that celebrates the color, shape, and taste of each ingredient as it is.”
That kind of singular attention may play out very interestingly in the Willamette Valley, where there are endless seasonal ingredients. It’s a major reason so many chefs and culinary minds land in the Portland area. “We are driven by the products that are unique to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and create dishes that are unbounded by but see through the lens of Japanese cuisine,” says Kim of the Takibi approach. 
Kim benefits from ample time spent in Japan and the mindset that comes with it. “I learned how important it is to consider the guest in every single way beyond the food,” he says. “I also learned how to think and see things from a different perspective, and again that does not apply strictly to the food.” If Takibi can harness both the holistic hospitality mindset he absorbed from Kyoto and Oregon’s bountiful farms, fisheries, orchards, and more, it will be well worth the wait.

Read more
Chocolate lovers will adore this sweet coconut Coquito cocktail
An indulgent and creamy combination of coconut and white chocolate
coconut coquito cocktail mozart feature 1

If you're a chocolate lover, you might find yourself sadly low on cocktail recipes which cater to your tastes. There are classic dessert cocktails like the Mudslide, certainly, and if you like chocolate mint flavors then there's the Grasshopper. But with the cocktail world's fascination with bitter and moody flavors, the fans of all things sweet and chocolatey can find themselves overlooked.

But there are cocktails out there for the sweet-toothed, and they are often party favorites that are enjoyed by lots of people -- especially during the holiday season. We've got an example of a sweet and creamy cocktail with flavors of white chocolate and coconut that is perfect for making in large batches to serve to a crowd. It would be a great dessert cocktail to end a festive dinner, or you could even bottle it up and give it as a gift to the chocolate lover in your life.

Read more