Video
Four Japanese Foods I Learned to Love After Living in Japan
If you’ve ever struggled with Japanese food culture, these examples might feel very familiar.
Natto (Fermented Soybeans)
Natto was one of my earliest food challenges. The slimy texture and strong smell were hard to get past, especially when I first tried it outside Japan. Over time, natto became a regular Japanese breakfast for me, usually over rice and sometimes topped with a fried egg. What once felt impossible eventually turned into comfort food.
Japanese Canned and Bottled Coffee
As a pour‑over coffee fan, Japanese canned coffee didn’t impress me at first. The taste felt flat compared to freshly brewed coffee. Today, I appreciate it for what it is: convenient, reliable, and part of daily life in Japan. Grabbing a coffee from a vending machine has its own unique Japanese “vibe.”
Cold Bento Lunch Boxes
Cold or room‑temperature meals confused me when I first started working in Japan. That changed after long, tiring days when hunger mattered more than temperature. Convenience, nutrition, and timing made cold bento lunches satisfying rather than strange.
Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
Cold rice was another hurdle I didn’t expect to overcome. Once I understood the importance of high‑quality Japanese rice, proper preparation, and seasonal ingredients, onigiri became one of my favorite snacks. They’re simple, filling, and perfect for travel around Japan.
Japanese Word of the Day
As always, there's a Japanese Word of the Day at the end of the episode, and of course, it's related to food.
Check it out on my Word of the Day page.
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