Taking classes in Japan will give you access to Japanese cuisine which is not only delicious, but also very good for your health. This is partly due to the premium ingredients used, but also a very healthy attitude towards what the Japanese put on their plate.
Scientists have looked at the traditional Japanese diet and suggest that if you spend a few weeks (or a lifetime) eating their regular meals of fresh foods, unprocessed produce, and the occasional fermented product, your body (and your taste buds) will thank you. No need to tell me twice… Pass the sashimi!
Learn table manners
Before you sit down to eat, there are a few customs that are useful to know when eating in Japan or with Japanese hosts. For example, you should never lift your food higher than your mouth, and although you should use chopsticks to eat the solid bits of soup, you should never use them to stab your food. It’s also rude to let them rest on the side of your bowl or plate – use a rack if provided, or the packaging they came in.
Don’t overindulge in food
To truly eat like the Japanese, you must also think like them. There is a traditional Japanese saying , “Hara hachi bu”, which means you should eat until you are 80% full. Finally, you will no longer need to unbutton your jeans after a meal.
Breakfast is tasty
A traditional Japanese breakfast may include miso soup, steamed rice, and dishes such as grilled fish, dried seaweed (nori), pickles, fermented soybeans (natto), and vegetables. You won’t find anything fried or overly greasy, as these dishes are designed to be light and give you plenty of protein for your day.
Invest in a lunch box
Many people will also take a box lunch, called a bentō, to class or work. In a bentō box, you can find rolled egg and rice omelettes, rice balls wrapped in seaweed, hard-boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce, meatball skewers, or chicken curry. There’s also a fun custom of trying to make lunch foods look cute – like cutting apple slices into the shape of bunny ears!
Go crazy for matcha
Green tea is the drink par excellence, and will often be consumed at the same time as the meal. Matcha – a type of powdered green tea that contains more caffeine – has become super popular even outside of Japan, and it’s full of antioxidants, which is great for heart health.
Eat according to the seasons
Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on the connection with the changing seasons, and the consumption of seasonal ingredients is an integral part of the national diet. If you’ve been living in Japan for a while, expect to see menus change every few weeks to reflect what’s good at that time of year. Eating seasonally is also kinder to the environment, as it means less food is shipped into the country from overseas when it’s not ready to be harvested locally.
You will see lots of fresh fish
Japan is made up of more than 6,000 islands, so it’s no surprise that fresh fish is abundant on the menu. Fresh, raw fish is an essential part of sushi – a type of traditional Japanese cuisine consisting of cooked rice with vegetable, fish or seafood toppings, which has become internationally popular. Although you can also find meat dishes with beef and chicken, fish and seafood dominate here.
Tip: try fermented foods from Japan
Fermentation is the basis of many classic Japanese dishes. Fermented foods are packed with beneficial microbes and nutrients that help keep your gut healthy and your brain and body functioning properly. Miso is a savory paste made from fermented soybeans, which is the basis of the much-loved miso soup, and nattō is a dish made from fermented, sticky soybeans. Japan has the highest number of people who have lived over 100, so it’s obvious they’re doing something right – don’t ignore the bowl of pickles on the table!