Japanese food glossary
Bento is a box lunch meal of rice, pickles, a small portion of fish, eggs, meat and vegetables. It is often served in restaurants, train stations or prepared at home for children's school lunch.
Izakaya is a type of Japanese drinking establishment, which also serves food to accompany the drinks. The food is usually more substantial than those offered in bars. Dinning in an Izakaya offers variety of food on small plates rather than a main dish typically seen in a restaurant in Western countries.
Kaiseki is regarded as the most exquisite culinary refinement in Japan. Unlike western meals, there is no main dish. Instead each small course is artfully arranged on tableware chosen according to the season.
Ofu is gluten, made primarily of protein. "Ofu" is an artistic food often imitating flowers or leaves. It is often used in soups.
Okonomiyaki originated in the Osaka region and is akin to a Japanese style pizza or omelet. It is a mixture of flour, eggs, vegetables and seafood/meat cooked on hot skillets at your table.
Ramen noodles are a popular egg noodle dish for business people in Japan and a far distant cry from their American manifestation. Many ramen restaurants make their own noodles from scratch. You'll never think of Ramen the same again!
Sadou is literally translated to "The way of tea". The tea ceremony is one of the quintessential expressions of Japanese esthetics. It is a comprehensive art, encompassing not just the serving and drinking of tea, but the protocol of tea preparation, tea -implements, the decoration of the tearoom with objects of beauty, and more.
Shojin Ryori, Buddhist vegetarian meal. Shojin Cuisine is made with vegetables, beans and grains and reflects the traditional Buddhist prohibition on meat and fish. Buddhist monks developed Shojin cuisine using limited ingredients and it has evolved today to a sublime gourmet experience, both sophisticated and healthy.
Soba and Udon are two kinds of Japanese noodle. Soba is made from buckwheat flour and Udon from wheat flour. They are served either in a broth or dipped in a sauce, and are available in hundreds of delicious variations.
Yakitori is offered at a specialized yakitori restaurant or at Izakaya restaurant. Yakitori is chicken brochettes salted or coated in a soy-sauce dip and roasted. It goes well with sake and Japanese beer. Some restaurants offer beef, pork and vegetable brochettes.
Japanese cultural glossary
Futon is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. Japanese futons are flat, about 2 to 3 inches thick with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. Futon is to be placed on tatami (made of woven straw) flooring, and are traditionally folded away and stored in a closet during the day. Western futons you see in US are only loosely based on the Japanese original. It is always much thicker and larger than Japanese futons. When you stay at Ryokan, your assigned maid will come to your room, move the table aside, and set out the futon.
Onsen means hot springs bath. Since the country of Japan consists of volcanic islands, there are 2,200 areas where hot mineral waters are bubbling up from the ground. Men and women bathe separately. It is considered "social occasion" to visit hot springs with your friends and your family of the same gender. Please do not wear swimsuits. It is not a Japanese custom to wear swimsuits to hot springs. It is also a good manner to rinse your body before soaking. Your guide will also explain etiquettes of enjoying hot springs.
Ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn dating back from 1600. Interiors, exteriors, cuisine and service are very different from those in Western-style hotels. Normally guests will take off shoes at the entrance or at the entrance of a private room. Ryokan typically feature tatami (made of woven straw) matted rooms, communal baths separated by gender, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata (Japanese summer garment. A casual form of kimono). Bedding is a futon on tatami-matted floor. The meals are often enjoyed at the lower table with a low chair or a cushion. Undiscovered Japan will typically use a Ryokan with a private bath and a toilet in each room. However, this is not a typical set up for Ryokan stay. Please also note that Ryokan normally do not provide a non-smoking room.
Yukata is an informal form of kimono made of cotton and worn with a narrow sash called obi. Many people wear yukata at summer time festivals and fireworks display. Many ryokan also provide yukata as pajamas. You may wear this at a dinner table at ryokan. Many people also change to yukata after checking into a ryokan. The left side of the yukata must be wrapped over the right side.