Japan’s National Comfort Dish

When you think of Japanese comfort foods, ramen might be the first thing that comes to mind. In reality, Japan’s national comfort dish can arguably be the Japanese curry, also known as “kare-raisu”, or curry rice. Learn the Japanese curry history and how Japan made it its own.

Ramen is best eaten in ramen shops where the master chef takes hours upon hours to produce the perfect broth. Curry, on the other hand, can be best enjoyed both in restaurants and at home which makes it the ultimate comfort food.

Capitol Hotel Tokyu Beef Curry
Japanese beef curry at The Capitol Hotel Tokyu. In Japan, hotels’ late night menus in their restaurants and for room service typically offer this dish knowing it is one of the best meals to end the evening

 

Japanese Curry History

The British navy first introduced curry to Japan during the Meiji era in the 1850s. This coincided with the British colonial rule over India. As such, this new gourmet dish was exclusively served to the wealthy class.

The difference between Indian curry and Japanese curry lies in the curry powder. Indian curry requires a mixture of spices, whereas Japanese curry only uses curry powder rooted from a British recipe.

Considered a Western food because of its British introduction, the Japanese adjusted the flavors to suit their own palate. The curry gained popularity in the 1960s when the Japanese expanded the dish’s reach to the everyday person. Supermarkets now sold retort packages and roux blocks that could be easily cooked at home.

Peninsula Tokyo Beef Curry
For a taste of high-class Japanese curry, go to The Peninsula Tokyo’s Lobby Lounge for lunch or dinner. Their beef curry has a wonderful depth of flavor unlike the traditional, everyday plates served in restaurants

 

Today’s Japanese Curry

Today’s Japanese curry is typically made with beef, pork, or chicken along with onions, carrots, mushrooms, and or potatoes. Sweet pickles (fukujinzuke) and pickled pearl onions (rakkyo) accompany the dish as condiments.

Local curries incorporate regional specialties. For instance, Matsusaka beef curry in the Mie Prefecture and Kurobuta pork curry in the Kagoshima Prefecture.

The dish’s popularity spreads over to creations beyond curry rice, too. Curry can be found with udon noodles, inside the bread, and poured over crispy katsu.

Classic Japanese Beef Curry
A classic order of Japanese beef curry. The dish is best paired with a cold Japanese draft beer (nama biiru). Even if you do not eat a lot of rice, you will find yourself scraping the plate with a spoon – which by the way the dish is always eaten with a spoon over chopsticks

 

Types of Japanese Curry

In restaurants, the Japanese curry is flavored according to the chef’s palate. In supermarkets, you can choose the types of curries to make at home. Amakuchi is sweet, chukara is medium spicy, and karakuchi is hot spicy.

ANA Business Class Lounge Chicken Curry
Japanese curry is found everywhere – even in All Nippon Airways Business Class Lounge in Haneda International Airport. You must arrive at the airport early enough to enjoy their chicken curry

 
 
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Updated May 4, 2021

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