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Basic Information
“Onigiri,” “Inari Sushi,” and “Ochazuke” are popular Japanese fast foods commonly eaten in everyday life. Additionally, there are various variations of rice-based dishes, including “Chirashi Sushi” and “Kamameshi,” which mix fish, vegetables, and mushrooms, as well as “Ehomaki,” eaten for good luck.
Rice Porridge (Okayu)
Okayu, or rice porridge, is a dish where rice is cooked until soft with an excess of water. Due to its easy digestibility, it is often eaten when sick.
Rice Ball (Onigiri)
Onigiri, or rice balls, are a traditional Japanese portable food. Rice is hand-shaped into triangles or other shapes, and wrapped in seaweed. It’s commonly filled with ingredients like pickled plum, salted salmon, and cod roe.
Rice Sandwich (Onigirazu)
Onigirazu is a portable food wrapped in seaweed, and unlike onigiri, it is not hand-pressed. While onigiri is tightly pressed by hand, onigirazu is gently wrapped around. This dish gained popularity after it was introduced in a manga in 1990.
Sweet Rice Ball (Ohagi)
Ohagi are sweet rice balls wrapped in sweetened red bean paste. Ohagi is often eaten during the spring and autumn equinox periods, when people visit the graves of their ancestors.
Rice with Tea (Ochazuke)
Ochazuke is a simple dish where tea is poured over rice. It is often flavored with additional ingredients such as salt, seaweed, and wasabi.
Inari Sushi
Inarizushi is a type of sushi where vinegared rice is stuffed into a pouch of sweet and savory deep-fried tofu. Its simplicity makes it a popular choice at sushi conveyor belts and sushi bento boxes.
Iron Pot Rice (Kamamesi)
Kamamesi is a type of mixed rice cooked with soy sauce and mirin along with ingredients like chicken and shiitake mushrooms in an individual iron pot. The station bento sold at Isesaki Station in Gunma Prefecture, Kanto region, is particularly famous.
Ehoumaki
Ehoumaki is a type of sushi roll that was originally eaten in the Kansai region during the first few days of February. In the 1990s, convenience stores started selling ehoumaki nationwide, leading to its widespread popularity.
Scattered Sushi (Chirashizushi)
Chirashizushi is a type of sushi where various ingredients such as seafood, omelette, carrots, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms are mixed with vinegared rice. It is traditionally eaten on March 3rd for the Hinamatsuri festival.
