Itadaki! Food in Japan.

Article 7 - Itadaki! Food in Japan. Itadakimasu. What does it mean? This is one of the first words a student of Japanese learns, and only a few weeks into the course. It literally means, "I'm going to humbly recieve this," but it is generally used as a grace to both the night's good circumstances and the person who cooked. So, what sort of other questions do I often itadakimasu? I’ve been asked on more than one equation the following question: “What IS Japanese food, anyway?” In the States, there are often times many restaurants that claim to serve Japanese food, including the famous Hibachi table restaurants. In truth, a Hibachi Table is a large pit with an iron kettle placed on legs in the center of it. The Hibachi Tables we encounter in America are actually Teppen, or Iron Tables. I don’t suppose I’ll ever know why the wrong word became so popular. Wikipedia even mentions it. In any case, I’ve decided that this blog would provide a great opportunity to present to you, the reader, a few of the more unique and delicious dishes that make Japanese cuisine so popular. But first, let’s start with the basics. What kind of food are you likely to eat when you go to Japan? No, the answer is not “only cup noodles.” Two of the most prevalent staple foods in Japan are rice and fish, though meat is also popular, though the portions are usually smaller due to expense. Mix in a few oddities and might get something tantalizing such as in the following picture. One might eat something like this while visiting a family in Japan. Some of you might be thinking, "I see Egg, Rice, and some vegitables. There's not much fish." Let me introduce you to the type of Sashimi that is served at specialty restaurants. These plates can really empty your wallet, depending on what's on the plate. Speaking of what's on the plate, this particular arrangement includes both Octopus and Scallop. Such a dish is much too expensive for normal consumption, however, and that brings us to the next two dishes. Coincidentally, these two dishes are often used for social gatherings since everyone surrounding the table has a hand in cooking.

First, there is a sort of cooking where you throw a number of ingredients into a sauce and cook it in an iron pot. This type of cooking is called Nabe.

Next is a famous dish for people in Osaka called Takoyaki. The lovable part of this dish is the small chunk of octopus that's hidden in the center of each ball. On the streets, and particularly in Osaka, you can usually spot a cooking stand or two. A few of the balls are burnt in the picture below, but that was largely my fault. You'd never see a burnt one while watching a Takoyaki Master perform.

A few other really popular dishes in Japan are Udon (a thick noodle served in broth), Omelet Rice (a large omelet served witih rice in the center), Katsu (breaded and fried meat cuts), and of course, the infamous Sushi (a sashimi and rice combination). Keep your eyes open for these dishes too the next time you visit a Japanese restaurant.