Vegetarians

[NoEyeDeer]

Thank you all for the tips! I'm enjoying reading over this thread and glad to know there are many other inflexitarians who I will be struggling along with . My biggest concern is just offending people, although I didn't have any trouble the last time I was there. That, and the possibility that I won't be able to eat many of the delicious cakes if they're made with lard (I adore pastries...)

In my case, I simply can't stomach meat anymore, and generally react pretty violently to it. I used to eat meat, but one day I started getting sick to my stomach when I ate it, and the reaction got worse and worse until I gave up and embraced a vegetarian lifestyle. My sister reacts similarly, but she hasn't been able to eat it since birth. My experience has altered my point of view such I see meat the same way I see any other (kinda gross, sorry) corpse, and I really can't shake it. I can technically eat highly processed meat products, like ekisu, gelatin, and dashi, but given my view of things I really prefer not to if I can avoid it and I get pretty nauseated after making a mistake (especially if I can tell by the flavor). Thank goodness I can speak some Japanese and love cooking! If there are any other JETS near me starting in August, come visit, I'll feed you.

Speaking of which, does anyone know of any good toaster oven/ rice cooker cooking/baking books? I've heard you can make cakes and brownies and what not in both, so I'm pretty excited to get creative. I once had to live with only a microwave and got pretty good creating healthy recipes I could make from scratch in the microwave, so I'm not too worried, mostly excited to try things

[vegbobi]

Hi everyone!

I've lived in Japan for several years in the past (in Tokyo), and was vegetarian while there. I have been vegan for the past year and don't intend on changing while in Japan, and I'm sorry, but for the person suggesting to essentially 'just shut your mouth and eat the pork' if its being served at an event, that is just ludicrous for most vegetarians and not very open-minded advice. Anyways. I've just been placed in Tokushima-Ken, Shikoku, so if there are any veg heads headed that way (or already there!) I'd love to hear from you!
I had no problem being veg while in Tokyo, but to be honest this was mainly because I mainly ate out at veggie/indian/italian restaurants and was spoiled with international supermarkets. I know that most local/Japanese restaurants will be generally quite difficult to eat at, but from what I've read, in smaller towns several restaurants are happy to accomodate veggies. I know for sure that the most difficult scenarios will be school lunches (almost never veg-friendly, and as several people have mentioned it is probably best to tell your school/BOE etc that you will be bringing your own lunch) and enkais and eating out in general. I think the best advice, I would imagine, would be to politely tell people in advance about your dietary lifestyle, and to always assume there may not be much to eat at these events, and hopefully people will be pleasantly surprised/accomodated! And of course, for those of you who don't speak or read very much Japanese, memorizing certain kanji and phrases will be vital.

And its true, you will find animal products where you least expect it. I remember buying french mustard once at the grocery store only to notice it smelled a little strange once opened. My roommate checked out the label and confirmed there was pork product in it. (?!?! in mustard!). Also, there really is dashi (fish stock) in virtually every sauce in restaurants, so just be aware of this.

On a more positive note, I know that cooking vegan in Japan will be totally doable. I can't speak about rural Japan 100%, but there are several brands of Japanese soymilk (which in my opinion are tastier than many of the Western versions, my favorite is the brand that comes in a green carton with a sun cartoon on it) which are available at most supermarkets. And of course, the ubiquitous tofu is widely available, and though often quite expensive, fruit and veg are widely available and of high quality. There are also brands of vegan Japanese curry, and most store-bought yakisoba (fried noodle) packs that come with a powdery flavoring are also safe, last time I checked!

Other people have linked to websites that deliver natural foods. I have not used these sites personally, but have heard they're quite reliable, and I'd imagine super useful for ordering products not widely available in most Japanese supermarkets.

Several people have posted links to the 'Kansha" book, and I also have a cookbook called The Asian Vegan Kitchen, which was written by an Indian woman living in Tokyo, which includes a substantial Japanese recipe section, I would highly recommend it! (http://www.amazon.com/The-Asian-Vegan-K ... 477003069X)

Additionally, I found a former JET's youtube channel which includes about 10 videos on being veg in Japan, cooking, products to stock up on, etc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxkIJ8tM ... el&list=UL

Lastly, for anyone planning on spending some time in Tokyo or Osaka or placed nearby, it is useful to check out the respective cities' Vegan Meet-up Groups' websites. They are a great way of discovering places that might not have much of an online presence in English, or that might be harder to find. Also, veggie food is definitely more popular in major cities in Japan than ever before, with some fast food outlets serving veggie burgers. (Check out Freshness Burger's 'tofu hamburg'!). One last word of caution, many seemingly 'veggie' burgers/hot dogs contain meat, so always double check before ordering!

I could go on and on on the topic so if anybody wants to PM me with any specific questions, please do! (Again, i've never lived in rural Japan but have spent several years in Tokyo and can comment on veggie restaurants there as well as on the standpoint of using Japanese ingredients to cook vegan food.)

[Jitensha12]

Vegbobi, thanks so much for your post! My partner and I will be moving to Kumatori in the Osaka prefecture, just a hop-skip-and-a-jump over the Bay from you in Tokushima (well, sort of)! I have really good friends who lived in Tokushima for two years with the JET Program and LOVED it there... if you have any specific questions about that location or veg foods/restaurants, I could run those questions by them and get back to you. Let me know!

It would be great if we could stay in touch, as nearby vegan allies in Japan.

[notJiggit]

You know something that really irritates me is the way so many people seem to think it's fine to rag on vegetarians and to dish out their own criticisms and often quite condescending judgments about other people's completely harmless lifestyle choices. And yet somehow vegetarians get stick for apparently being annoying. Most vegetarians I know aren't particularly aggressive about it and seem to do their best to not cause trouble, get on with people and quietly act according to their personal beliefs without trying to impose that on others.

I eat meat but I think it's extremely arrogant to assume that you are somehow qualified or justified in trying to "correct" someone else on their own extremely personal and unobtrusive lifestyle that they probably have thought about a lot more than you have. Especially when those people didn't invite or are explicitly trying to avoid a debate on it.

[vegbobi]

Vegbobi, thanks so much for your post! My partner and I will be moving to Kumatori in the Osaka prefecture, just a hop-skip-and-a-jump over the Bay from you in Tokushima (well, sort of)! I have really good friends who lived in Tokushima for two years with the JET Program and LOVED it there... if you have any specific questions about that location or veg foods/restaurants, I could run those questions by them and get back to you. Let me know!

It would be great if we could stay in touch, as nearby vegan allies in Japan.

Hi Jitensha! I would absolutely love any information on veg-friendly places in Tokushima! I believe since this is my 3rd post you can PM me now, if you get any information from your ex-JET friends . Glad to hear they liked the place! And yes, lets definitely keep in touch.

[brainsteww]

You know something that really irritates me is the way so many people seem to think it's fine to rag on vegetarians and to dish out their own criticisms and often quite condescending judgments about other people's completely harmless lifestyle choices. And yet somehow vegetarians get stick for apparently being annoying. Most vegetarians I know aren't particularly aggressive about it and seem to do their best to not cause trouble, get on with people and quietly act according to their personal beliefs without trying to impose that on others.

I eat meat but I think it's extremely arrogant to assume that you are somehow qualified or justified in trying to "correct" someone else on their own extremely personal and unobtrusive lifestyle that they probably have thought about a lot more than you have. Especially when those people didn't invite or are explicitly trying to avoid a debate on it.

Thank you for sticking up for us. Hating on vegetarians isn't taboo and unfortunately socially acceptable and somewhat expected.

On a side note, in my small placement town, I know one of my three possible preds was vegetarian, which gives me hope XD

[Eigen]

Thank you for sticking up for us. Hating on vegetarians isn't taboo and unfortunately socially acceptable and somewhat expected.

On a side note, in my small placement town, I know one of my three possible preds was vegetarian, which gives me hope XD

You'll be fine in Gero! When you first arrive, I'll make sure to get you info for nearby sources of great vegetarian goodness. There's also a VERY good organic shop closer to Takayama I want to try out, it opened a year ago. I cook almost exclusively vegetarian and my girlfriend who lives with me hasn't eaten meat since she's 7. Since you're one of the nearest towns to us, we'll be in contact!

[brainsteww]

Thank you for sticking up for us. Hating on vegetarians isn't taboo and unfortunately socially acceptable and somewhat expected.

On a side note, in my small placement town, I know one of my three possible preds was vegetarian, which gives me hope XD

You'll be fine in Gero! When you first arrive, I'll make sure to get you info for nearby sources of great vegetarian goodness. There's also a VERY good organic shop closer to Takayama I want to try out, it opened a year ago. I cook almost exclusively vegetarian and my girlfriend who lives with me hasn't eaten meat since she's 7. Since you're one of the nearest towns to us, we'll be in contact!

Awesome!! I'll be spending quite some time in Takayama it seems

[violet]

Hey y'all,

I'm a JET who has been living in Hokkaido for a few years now. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I choose to eat vegetarian fare for the majority of my meals (outside of school lunch), and I know some vegetarian JETs. Here are my thoughts...

You will survive as a vegetarian in Japan for sure, but you need to learn how to cook. That is really not optional if you want to eat a balanced diet. Do not expect easy availability of highly-processed vegetarian fare like veggie burgers, fake meat, canned soup, etc. Instead, teach yourself how to cook with local, fresh vegetables (they are much better for you anyway!). It's easy to do a simple vegetable stir-fry with rice. Leafy greens are super cheap, as is tofu, and there are many delicious kinds of produce you probably haven't encountered before that I encourage you to be adventurous with. Look up how to cook it on the internet, and go for it!

Warning: Restaurants are dangerous waters for vegetarians. Even if you can fluently read a Japanese menu does not mean you will be able to figure out which items are vegetarian without asking. That mushroom & cheese pizza will come with bacon. That vegetable soup with have unlisted pork or fish broth. A so-called "tofu hamburger" is often half-pork, half-tofu. Heck, I even bought a sandwich at a bakery once that was labeled "Vegetarian Sandwich" in katakana, and it had ham in it.

Further warning: Waiters are not very familiar with the ingredients in the dishes, and likely don't really understand what the word "vegetarian" means. Just because a waiter tells you something is vegetarian, does not necessarily mean they are correct. Double-check with them asking about every single item you don't eat (no beef, no pork, no poultry, no fish, no fish broth, no gelatin, etc.). But... mistakes will still occur sometimes, so, if you decide to eat at restaurants, then you will likely put something in your mouth that is non-vegetarian at some point, even with the best intentions.

I've met a vegan here, and he pretty much couldn't eat out, but as long as you don't mind just going out for drinks with people and not eating/eating little, you can make whatever kind of diet work out for you and still be a successful and happy JET! Good luck!

[Poopsy]

Several people have posted links to the 'Kansha" book, and I also have a cookbook called The Asian Vegan Kitchen, which was written by an Indian woman living in Tokyo, which includes a substantial Japanese recipe section, I would highly recommend it! (http://www.amazon.com/The-Asian-Vegan-K ... 477003069X)

Additionally, I found a former JET's youtube channel which includes about 10 videos on being veg in Japan, cooking, products to stock up on, etc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxkIJ8tM ... el&list=UL

Thanks for these! I'm gonna check them out!

I got my Kansha book a couple days ago. I agree with the lack of pictures, I wish there were more. I like that the writer teaches you ways to use every single part of each vegetable and how to reuse things. And there is an ingredients/cooking techniques glossary for newbs like me.

[ckj846]

Thanks for all of the informative posts! I was a vegetarian for 4 years up until a month ago--I actually started to eat meat to prepare for Japan. I've slowly built up a tolerance to meat to the point of not getting sick, but I still hope to maintain a relatively vegetarian diet when I am over there in Japan. I'm on Sosa Chiba-ken, so I'll have access to lots of fresh vegetables!

[Quercus]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I do have 2 yens worth to put in on meal options and course of action in doing that. I've been here a year almost already, and while I don't follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, I have modified my diet to become low-carb. Which here in Japan, the amount of carbs consumed is crazy with all the school lunch rice and rice being offered with most every meal, so you might end up eating double the amount of carbohydrates and grains you eat back home. If you're cool with that, then great, if not then it can be a bit of a hassle. But in regards to anything involving dietary modification, be it vegan/vegetarianism, low-carb, or whatever else. Bottom line, two pieces of advice:

Advice 1.) Check/research/ask! School lunch is pretty clean cut on knowing what ingredients are used in the preparation of the food, my school at least has all the ingredients used in each meal listed on the lunch menu schedule they hand out every month. As for eating out, really emphasize your dietary lifestyle and ask about what is in your food and what other options you can choose to stay true to your diet. However, be 'street' smart and know that here in Japan, some people don't think twice about what could be off-limits to you or not. I don't find this is intentional, just ignorant, such as you say no meat and them not even considering to think that you consider ham as meat, because in their mind ham isn't 'niku'. With a small side note, niku tends to be thought of as just being beef, not pork or chicken, or whatever else. And also if you do order something, check it before eating, as I'm sure is a good practice for anyone to do who has a diet different from that of most of society. And a little story, if you order a salad, it may have ham bits, so check, also a vegetarian friend of mine accidentally broke his diet when he ate squid ink ice cream for the first time after being offered it, thinking it was prepared in a way kosher to vegetarianism, so heads up, it's not. So get familiar with the main food ingredients/meals here and research what they consist of.

Advice 2.) STICK TO YOUR GUNS! So all caps aside, let anyone who seems to have a difficult time with regarding diet that you mean business. I don't think anyone is out to purposefully sabotage your lifestyle, but some people are really set in their ideals of how to go about living life and having a meal. Customs involving food are one of the biggest points of judgment and scrutiny within any culture, because it is such a core element to a culture. So stating right away, you will get the looks of 'you're weird' or 'you're naive and just don't know what's good for you' when you make mention of your dietary lifestyle. Heaven knows my tea lady just can't get it to fit the gears in her brain that I have chosen to not eat the crazy amounts of rice and grain that Japanese people thrive and subsist on, on a day-to-day basis. And by anyone I've told of my dietary lifestyle, I have netted weird looks. At restaurants you will have little to no problem since it is free choice over your own menu option and what you order. At my schools, school lunch isn't necessary so I can easily make my own lunch and bring it, I only have school lunch because I find it is more affordable than me schlepping up money for groceries every week, because that can get expensive, as this is Japan. I simply choose what out of the school lunch I want to eat, and I don't touch the other. I try to choose my school lunch before the other teachers so I can leave my rice container untouched for someone else to pick up and have if they want it, or what other food I don't want to eat I can simply scoop off to another tray since I haven't gone to my desk to sit down to eat yet, and I also do that with the lunch milk. Just stick to your choice and be firm, it's not the end of the world if you don't eat something and they clearly can't make you. And worse case scenario, you can be all mottainai if you have to and just toss it when lunch is over, and sometimes I do as much as I don't like to be wasteful, if you don't feel comfortable doing that, then if it comes down to it, you can carry saran wrap with you and wrap it and take it home, and say you're full and you will eat it at home later, they respect that, then just throw it away when you get home if you can't handle the pressure of dealing with disposing of it in front of others.

[jimminycricket31]

Hi everyone,

I am not a vegetarian but I am lactose intolerant and quite allergic to mushrooms. What do the school lunches usually consist of and can you tell your BOE about food allergies? Is it pretty common to just bring a lunch or do you have to get permission for it?

Thanks!

[teabot]

Hi everyone,

I am not a vegetarian but I am lactose intolerant and quite allergic to mushrooms. What do the school lunches usually consist of and can you tell your BOE about food allergies? Is it pretty common to just bring a lunch or do you have to get permission for it?

Thanks!

ESID on bringing lunches, but be careful as mushrooms are a common ingredient in food. is your allergy to specific mushrooms or mushrooms in general? school lunches come with a serving of milk, but it seems fairly easy to decline/pass off on someone else.

[jasmine.ubc]

Hi there, glad to see this forum!

My entire family is vegetarian and we are so for religious/ethical reasons. Although I'm not a picky eater, my vegetarian diet is something that I can't compromise.

Do you guys think something along the lines of "doubutsu ga tsukau ryourui ga taberaremasen" (let me know if that's a failed attempt to say "I can't eat cuisine that use animal products" ) would work?

The other thing is I'm placed in a small village of 6,000 people in Kochi-ken where the fishing industry appears to be a dominant industry in the area. I'm a little worried about finding vegetarian options in the inaka village restaurants/supermarkets...does anyone have experiences being a vegetarian in the far countryside?

Thanks!