As a culturally sensitive person, I don’t want to say that Japanese food is disgusting. The world is a better place because of sushi, and I can’t think of a better food than ishi yaki imo (you can buy sweet potatoes from street vendors) on a cool autumn evening. That said, there are traditional Japanese foods that are not appreciated by most of the non-Japanese population. These are foods that the Japanese are sure that non-Japanese people like. If you like these foods, try Japanese food and really appreciate the culinary aspect of Japan. If you think it’s ugly, you’re not alone.
One of these is natto. As an assistant teacher in Japan, I introduced myself to over a hundred different classes. And in each and every one, let someone ask me if I loved natto. What is natto? Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans. It is quite healthy and rice breakfast breakfast is quite nutritious
Why is natto a food hateful to so many foreigners? Well, I had natto, and I didn’t think it tasted bad. It’s not the taste that turns so many on natto, it’s the texture. Natto is a tangy and light soup. It also has a strong smell. If you can get past the texture and smell, you’ll find that natto has a savory and salty flavor that isn’t as strong as the smell suggests.
Another traditional Japanese food that many non-Japanese people avoid is umeboshi. Umeboshi seasoned ume. It is small, round, red, and wrinkled. You will often see umeboshi with rice. Umeboshi salty and spicy. If you want to try umeboshi, be prepared for a strong taste. Foreigners in Japan would be given umeboshi from a mischievous youth and not ready for too much action.
A popular delicacy in southern Japan is horse sashimi. Although sashimi is usually referred to raw fish, red meat is also eaten raw. Sashimi horse is not a common food. But it is more precious to be served a delicate feast. For many Westerners, horse is the one food where they draw the line. If you eat horse sashimi, try another food.
Fortunately for many non-Japanese, other traditional Japanese foods are more appealing to the masses. Many people enjoy tempura, teriyaki, soba and udon. Whether or not you pass the Japanese food test, you can enjoy Japanese cuisine in some way.
