Japanese food (Washoku (和食)), recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance, emphasizing harmony, seasonal ingredients, umami, and aesthetic presentation, typically featuring rice, miso soup, and a balance of flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) and nutrients through the “one soup, three dishes” (ichiju-sansai) concept, utilizing fresh, local ingredients prepared in ways that highlight their natural flavors.

Key Principles & Characteristics

• Harmony (Wa): A core concept, balancing tastes, colors, textures, and presentation.
• Seasonality: Dishes reflect the current season using fresh, local ingredients.
• Freshness: Relies on the natural flavors of ingredients, enhanced by simple preparation like broiling, boiling, or serving raw (sashimi).
• Umami: The savory taste derived from seafood, plants, and dashi (broth).
• Nutritional Balance: Low in animal fat, rich in vegetables, grains (rice), and healthy components.
• Presentation: Beautiful dishes and vessels are chosen to complement the food.

Core Components

• Rice (Kome: 米): The staple, often served with meals.
• Miso Soup (Misoshiru: 味噌汁): A fundamental accompaniment.
• Ichijū-sansai (一汁三菜): “One soup, three dishes” (main, two sides) provides balanced nutrition.
• Dashi (出汁, だし): A foundational broth (kombu, bonito) used in many dishes.

The ultimate food experience, usually displaying most of these principles, is a Keiseki dinner.

Examples

Contrary to the standard US perception, sushi is not the only Japanese food, and arguably not even the dominant one. Japan has many different foods. Below is an overview of the most well-known foods. You will find many variations or even other things. They mostly describe lunch and dinner foods. Japan’s cuisine is highly regional, with unique dishes in each area. While traditional dishes thrive, modern Japanese food also includes hearty curries (Kare Raisu), soy-glazed eggplant (Nasudengaku), and sweet-savory pork (Buta Kakuni).

Breakfast

Japanese breakfast varies from traditional, elaborate sets with rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickles to quick, modern options like toast, pastries, or onigiri (rice balls) from convenience stores, with staples including steamed rice, miso soup, natto (fermented soybeans), and rolled omelets (tamagoyaki) forming the core of a classic meal. Both Japanese-style (washoku) and Western-style breakfasts are popular, offering a healthy, balanced start to the day, often with green tea instead of coffee.

Sweets and snacks

• Wagashi (和菓子): Traditional Japanese confections, often served with tea.
• Mochi (餅): Chewy rice cakes, sometimes filled.
• Taiyaki (たい焼き): Fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste or custard.

Iconic Dishes & Staples

• Sushi (寿司) & Sashimi (刺身): Vinegared rice with seafood (sushi) or just slices of raw fish (sashimi).
• Ramen (拉麺): Wheat noodles in rich broth with toppings (pork, egg, seaweed).
• Udon/Soba (うどん/)そば: Thick (udon) or buckwheat (soba) noodles, often in hot broth or cold.
• Tempura (天ぷら): Lightly battered and deep-fried seafood or vegetables.
• Yakitori (焼き鳥): Skewers of grilled chicken pieces.
• Miso Soup (味噌汁): A staple soup made from fermented soybean paste (miso) and dashi broth, often with tofu and seaweed.
• Onigiri (おにぎり): Rice balls, often with fillings, wrapped in nori (seaweed).
• Bento (弁当): Packed lunch boxes with various compartments.
• Wagyu (和牛): High-quality, marbled, premium beef.
• Tsukemono (漬物): Japanese pickles, a common side.

Savory & Hearty Meals

• Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き): A savory pancake with cabbage, meat/seafood, and sauces.
• Takoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼): Fried dough balls filled with diced octopus.
• Donburi (丼): A “bowl” of rice topped with various ingredients like beef (Gyudon) or chicken (Oyakodon).
• Tonkatsu (豚カツ, とんかつ or トンカツ): Deep-fried pork cutlet.
• Shabu-Shabu (しゃぶしゃぶ) and Sukiyaki (鋤焼, or すき焼き): Hot pot dishes with thinly sliced meat and vegetables.

Other Must-Try Foods

• Gyoza (餃子): Pan-fried dumplings.
• Karaage (唐揚げ): Japanese-style fried chicken.
• Japanese Curry (カレー): A mild, thick curry served over rice.

The list above is by no means exhaustive.