Category: FOOD

In the US, Home Economics (cooking and sewing) is often an elective class or has disappeared. In Japan, it is mandatory for everyone. From elementary to high school, boys and girls must learn how to cook, sew an apron, and manage a household budget. It is considered a basic survival skill, not a hobby.

In early February, Japan celebrates “Setsubun” (the day before spring). Traditionally, people throw roasted soybeans out the front door shouting “Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!” (Devils out! Luck in!). It’s a fun event where fathers often wear demon masks and let their kids throw beans at them to drive away bad spirits.

In the US, “Omakase” has become a trendy word for a fancy, expensive set menu. But the real Japanese meaning is “I leave it up to you.” It is the ultimate act of trust. You are telling the chef, “I trust your skill more than my own choice.” It’s not a fixed list of dishes; it’s a dynamic performance.

You want to share a piece of delicious Tempura with your friend, so you pass it from your chopsticks to theirs. STOP! This is the single biggest taboo in Japanese dining. It looks exactly like a funeral ritual where family members pass the bones of the deceased after cremation. Doing this at a dinner table horrifies Japanese people.

If you are hungry in Tokyo, don’t look up at the skyscrapers; look down. Go to any major department store (like Isetan, Takashimaya, or Mitsukoshi) and take the escalator to the basement level (B1). You will arrive at “Depachika” (Depa = Department store, Chika = Basement), a sprawling food hall that looks like a jewelry box of cuisine.

When you enter a Japanese convenience store, do not ignore the glass display case next to the cash register. This is where the magic happens. Unlike the stale roller-dogs found in US gas stations, Japanese “Hot Snacks” are freshly fried in-store throughout the day. The quality is so high that during Christmas, many Japanese people actually prefer konbini chicken over fancy restaurants.

You might be skeptical if a travel guide told you to eat lunch at a convenience store. In many countries, convenience store food is viewed as a quick, practical option rather than a gourmet experience. However, in Japan, the “Konbini Egg Sandwich” (Tamago Sando) is a culinary masterpiece. The late Anthony Bourdain famously described the one from Lawson as “unnatural, inexplicable, and delicious.” It has since become a must-eat ritual for chefs and foodies visiting Japan.

In almost every country in the world, making noise while eating is considered bad manners. If you slurp your spaghetti in Italy, people will frown. However, walk into a Ramen or Soba shop in Tokyo, and you will hear a symphony of loud slurping sounds. In Japan, slurping noodles is not rude—it is actually the standard way to eat.