Overview of the Course and Vegetable-Related Culture in Japan
Coto February 8, 2021
This course on Japanese vegetables will cover the following topics with quizzes:
- Types of Japanese Vegetables
- Japanese Vegetable Vocabulary
- Useful Vegetable-related Phrases in Japanese
- Some Fun Facts
Before we get started, let’s look at Vegetarianism and Organic foods in Japan.
Vegetarian/Vegan in Japan
If you are a vegetarian, finding a suitable restaurant in Japan may not be very easy.
It is still not common for people to really understand the vegetarianism and some people think of “vegetarians” just as “people who do not eat meat”.
Also, fish are difficult to avoid because Japanese food culture is closely related to soup stock made from fish such as bonito.
However, in big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, the number of restaurants that support various eating habits is increasing.
Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Tokyo
The 10 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Spots in Tokyo
Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Osaka
Organic Food in Japan
Recently, it is not uncommon to find agricultural products labeled as “organic” lined up in Japanese supermarkets. However, the percentage of organic farmers in Japan is still not large, and as of 2017, there is data that the organic farm is only about 0.23% of the area of all the cultivated land in Japan.
The “Organic JAS Mark” can be affixed to agricultural products produced by producers who meet the Japanese Agricultural Standards for organic foods. Only foods with this “organic JAS mark” can display names such as “organic”.
Also, organic restaurants are not yet very common in Japan. However, it is steadily expanding. In 2019, the system called “Organic Restaurant JAS” started. This is a system which the government gives certification to restaurants that provide 5 or more organic dishes that use 80% or more of organic ingredients.
