"Curry Rice," a Common Dish in Japan

Curry, commonly enjoyed in Japan from children to adults, is a classic dish frequently found on family dinner tables. Unlike the Indian curry served at Indian cuisine specialty restaurants, "Curry Rice" in Japan has developed its own unique style, featuring curry poured over rice.

Originally, British people who resided in India during the British colonial period brought Indian cuisine back to their homeland and made their own adaptations, resulting in the birth of British-style curry. During the Meiji era, as Western culture spread in Japan, British-style curry found its way into the country. Consequently, in Japan, Curry Rice is categorized as "Western cuisine." Characteristics of Japanese curry include using ingredients like carrots, potatoes, and onions, as well as thickening the sauce with wheat flour.

Solid curry roux is readily available for purchase, making it easy to prepare Curry Rice at home. After sautéing the ingredients, you simply add water and curry roux and simmer, resulting in a quick and straightforward preparation. Any type of ingredients can be used, and the preparation methods vary from household to household, including mixing multiple curry roux types or adding secret ingredients. For those who want a quick meal, there's also the convenience of ready-made retort pouch curry, where you simply heat the pouch containing the ingredients and pour it over rice to create Curry Rice.

A finely chopped, mixed vegetable pickle consisting of seven types of vegetables served alongside Curry Rice is known as "Fukujinzuke." When curry was first introduced to Japan, traditional Indian-style pickles did not quite suit the Japanese palate. Instead, Fukujinzuke was introduced as a side dish and was well-received, leading to this combination becoming a classic accompaniment.

Japan boasts a variety of regional dishes unique to different areas, often created for community development purposes. Curry is one of these regional specialties. For instance, Sapporo's "Soup Curry," originally created for community promotion in Hokkaido's capital, has gained nationwide recognition and is now a famous dish offered at restaurants across the country.