So, I was enjoying my lunch today at a local restaurant in my section of Sendai, and I was thinking about all the different types of foods I enjoyed while traveling around the world this year. This gets me thinking about my regular diet in Japan, and how much it differs from what I eat at home and around the world.
The first subject I have to bring up about eating in Japan is that rice is the staple food. I didn't notice when I first came to Japan for about the first month, but food in Japan revolves around rice rather than wheat. Many people will be hard pressed to find a loaf of bread in any food store that is Western in taste or texture. Even the bread here is created with rice rather than wheat. I enjoy this though, as I actually prefer rice to bread on many occasions, and many different types of tasty breads are available at bakeries and cafes all around Japan in reasonable portions and prices. So, I guess I can say that you can find bread in Japan, but be ready to pay a decent amount more than what you were used to paying for bread.
With rice out of the way, I want to mention the lack of "fast food" on the streets of Japan. In its place is the availability of many cheap restaurant chains where you can buy dishes such as curry rice, meat over rice, salads, soups, and many other Japanese style dishes in a diverse selection. While the Japanese see these dishes as "rather unhealthy" compared to the dishes that they enjoy in home cooked meals and high end restaurant meals, they are still leagues healthier than American fast food in many instances and cost just about the same as a fast food meal back home as well. Every meal in Japan, I have always been able to enjoy a salad or vegetable dish that was fresh and refreshing.
Another aspect I have to mention about food in Japan is that the Japanese have a diversified palate in many regards. They will not eat food that lacks flavor, and as such, they have created a restaurant economy where every restaurant serves a delicious meal even in the cheapest dishes. Because all restaurants serve tasty meals, they must compete in other aspects of service. As a result, there are many types of restaurants available in any area, from the traditionally Japanese such as ramen, curry, and sushi, to Italian, French, and even Indian cuisine.
Finally, I would like to get to portion sizes in Japan. Yes, they are smaller than what I know in the United States, but they are quite filling. Portioning in Japan will probably trouble people used to Western diets, as often find yourself not feeling filled or not having the satisfying textures of food you are familiar with at home as a majority of the portion is relatively soft rice. The trade-off of this difference in eating habits is that Japan has one of the healthiest populations in the world. I am not saying that Japanese people live healthy, Japanese have many bad habits that I might touch on later, but Japan's eating habits are one of the healthiest I know of and a culture I think many other's can draw possible solutions to their own eating culture problems.
Bringing this all to conclusion, I have yet to have a bad meal in Japan. Japan is an example of what a culture can do when they simply will not accept poor quality of service of their food, and as a result have created a thriving yet competitive restaurant culture that is able to fill every niche and value point. I do miss sliced bread and fast food from home, but I am equally enjoying the diverse flavors available to me in Japan for a reasonable price.