Japan’s Love for Bread & Perfection.
While rice and noodles may be diet staples, the Japanese deeply love bread. Learn about the history of sandwiches in Japan, the different types of sandwiches in the country, and what makes the Japanese sandwiches so amazing.
The History of Japanese Sandwiches
Early versions of sandwiches first arrived in Japan with the Portuguese and Dutch trading ships in the 16th century. In fact, the Japanese word for bread, “pan”, comes from the Portuguese “pão”.
Shortly after, the Edo period closed Japan’s borders to all foreign nationals for over 200 years. The Meiji period reopened the country to foreign travel which greatly influenced Japanese lifestyle and cuisine.
In the 1850s, western restaurants made sandwiches and cafe classics for foreigners living in Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe. A few decades later, locals acquired the taste for sandwiches as seen in 1899 with the first sandwich bento boxes sold at Odawara Station in Kanagawa.
Today, you can find sandwiches all around the country ranging from savory to sweet fillings that are both classic and truly Japanese.
Sandwich Culture in Japan
When Western food is recreated in Japan, it gets tastier, more beautiful, and even perfect. For the Japanese, all things, even as simple as a sandwich, are created with aesthetics and innovation in mind.
Sandwiches are ingrained in Japanese food culture. Locals enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, as a snack, for picnics, and on train rides.
It’s all about that soft, white bread that so pillowy. It’s so well made that you don’t make a mess while eating it. The filling does not overwhelm the bread, which is as much of the star as the filling itself.
On top of the quality of ingredients and balance of creation, there is a precision in cutting the sandwich to show off how it was perfectly made. And perhaps the sandwich is even tastier because of how neatly it is wrapped – much like opening a present
To taste a sandwich in Japan, look no further than at the nearest convenience store. You will actually find truly delicious sandwiches in the refrigerated shelves.
Some of the country’s best sandwiches include their egg sandwich (tamago sando), katsu sando, the insanely experience A5 beef sandwich, and the beautifully constructed seasonal fruit sandwiches.
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