日本の食べ物 Nihon no tabemono Japanese food

Japanese table manners Before the meal, you would say いただきます (itadakimasu), which means ‘I gratefully receive’. Proper use of chopsticks is very important It is customary to serve each other with drinks, instead of serving yourself. ‘Cheers’= かんぱい　kanpai Every meal is served with rice in a small bowl. It is normal for there to be several dishes on the table, and you take bits from each bowl. ‘Slurping’ is perfectly acceptable! At the end of the meal, you would say ごちそうさまでした (gochisosamadeshita), which means ‘thank you for the meal’.

あさごはん asagohan- breakfast A typical breakfast might include green tea (おちゃ), umeboshi (うめぼし), miso soup(みそしる), nattou(なっとう), tamagoyaki(たまごやき) and rice (ごはん).

ひるごはん hirugohan-lunch Lunch can vary. Could include noodles(うどん), sandwiches(サンドイッチ), onigiri(おにぎり), sushi(すし) or obentou(おべんとう). Obentou (lunch boxes) are widely available from kiosks and shops, and contain small compartments containing items, such as rice, vegetables, salad and fish.

School lunch Lunch in school is very different to how we have lunch in English schools. There are no canteens or vending machines. All the students each together in the classroom, and lunch is bought on a trolley to each classroom and served by the lunch monitor to everyone in the class. The food is usually quite basic, and obviously features rice, along with an accompaniment, and then a drink of either water or milk and a yoghurt. When everyone has eaten, the trolley is returned to the school kitchen. Food from home is not permitted in school.

Bangohan ばんごはん Evening meal is the main meal of the day in Japan. Usually includes rice, a main dish of meat or fish, a side dish of vegetables, miso soup and pickled vegetables.

Traditional Japanese dishes しゃぶしゃぶ　　Shabushabu Japanese version of hot pot. Traditionally thinly sliced beef is swished into a pot of hot broth, which cooks the meat. Usually served with tofu(とふ) and vegetables, including onions(ねぎ), Carrots(にんじん), mushrooms(きのこ) and seaweed(のり), and of course, a bowl of rice(ごはん). おにぎりonigiri (rice balls) White rice formed into triangular or oval shaped balls, and often wrapped in nori (のり). Traditionally filled with pickled plum(うめ), salted salmon, tuna(かつおぶし),kombu(こんぶ) or tarako(たらこ). Most convenience stores sell them and they are eaten as a snack or as part of lunch.

おこのみやき okonomiyaki Savoury pancake containing a variety of fillings. Okonomi= what you like/want Yaki= grilled/cooked Toppings/fillings and batter tend to vary according to region. やきそば　　yakisoba Literally “fried noodles”, similar to Chinese ‘chow mein’. Fried with pork(ぶたにく), cabbage(キャベツ), onion(ねぎ), carrot(にんじん) and flavoured with yakisoba sauce, salt and pepper. てんぷら　tenpura Light batter made from cold water and soft wheat flour. Thin slices/strips of vegetables and seafood are dipped into the batter and then fried in hot oil. Served with dipping sauce.

すきやき sukiyaki ラーメン ramen おべんとうobento Thinly sliced meat, usually beef, and vegetables slowly cooked/simmered in a shallow iron pot at the table. Before eating, the food is usually dipped into a small bowl of raw, beaten egg. ラーメン ramen Noodle dish that originated in China. A meat/fish broth often flavoured with soy sauce and topped with foods such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, onion, sweetcorn and kamaboko (puried fish) おべんとうobento Bento= lunchbox Variety of items in each one. Rice is always included, along with meat/fish and pickled/cooked vegetables. Hugely popular and widely available

すし sushi Sushi is NOT raw fish!!!! にぎりすしnigiri ふとまき futomaki (it is actually a type of rice!!) Sushi is the type of rice, which becomes sticky when cooked and can be formed into different shapes and topped/filled with a variety of things. Different types of sushi are formed when they are presented,filled or prepared in different ways. にぎりすしnigiri Hand formed ball with a variety of toppings laid on top of the rice, such as slices of fish or prawns. ふとまき　futomaki A roll with seaweed on the outside and rice/fillings in the middle. Oval ball of sushi rice with nori wrapped round the outside and soft fillings, such as oysters, roe or quail egg. ぐんかんまき　gunkanmaki

にほん の のみものJapanese drinks さけ　　sake (rice wine) Served warm in the winter or at room temperature. Usually drunk from small cups (ちょこ) and poured from a ceramic flask (とっくり). Tea ceremony-performed on special occasions and uses powdered green tea called まちゃ　(macha). Equipment needed: Tea bowl ちゃわんchawan Tea caddy　ちゃきchaki　 Chakin (cloth)　ちゃきん　 Tea scoop　ちゃしゃくchashaku Tea whiskちゃせんchasen

Yo! Sushi Wagamama Japanese restaurants in the UK Founded in 1997 Concept of Japanese ‘kaiten’ sushi bar, where customers sit around the edge and food goes round on a conveyor belt. Plates are colour coded, depending on the food on the plate. Allows you to try small amounts of different dishes. Wagamama 12 tonnes of noodles served each week! 65 UK restaurants, 37 internationally. Noodle bars First restaurant opened in London in 1992.