Japan's World-Recognized "Onigiri"

Japanese onigiri comes in various flavors such as "salmon," "umeboshi" (pickled plum), and "tuna mayo." But what do you think are the popular ingredients among foreigners? This time, we conducted a survey by interviewing 20 foreigners who have been in Japan for less than six months to find out their favorite and least favorite onigiri fillings.

You'll always find "tuna mayo" onigiri at convenience store shelves, and it's a representative and beloved filling for onigiri across different age groups, from children to adults. In our survey, it was highly popular among foreigners too. Here are some of their specific comments:

"I used to eat it a lot when I lived in Korea. There are various fillings for onigiri, but tuna mayo has the richest flavor! Other fillings can be too plain and a bit unsatisfying." (Korea / Female / 20s)

"Tuna mayo is the best! The mayonnaise flavor is rich, and the slight oiliness of the tuna goes really well with the rice. It's unfair that such delicious food exists in Japan!" (USA / Teens / Male)

"There were many Japanese convenience stores in the urban areas of China, so I often bought tuna mayo onigiri. It pairs well with the seaweed wrapped around the rice. I like the tuna mayo that's not too heavy on mayonnaise, it's refreshing." (China / 20s / Female)

The key point here is that tuna flakes and mayonnaise are flavors that foreigners are "familiar with." Therefore, it's a natural progression for them to start with onigiri that uses ingredients they know. Tuna mayo is a filling that many foreigners are already accustomed to from their home countries, making it the most popular choice. It's not just about the taste; the familiarity and comfort with the flavor also play a significant role in its popularity.

Additionally, even within the category of tuna mayo, there are "plenty of mayo fans (mayonnaise as the main flavor)" and "less mayo fans (tuna as the main flavor)." It seems that in the Western and Eurozone regions, more people prefer plenty of mayo, while in Asian regions, less mayo is preferred. This reflects the different food cultures and preferences of each country and offers a glimpse into the authenticity of foreigners' love for tuna mayo.

Coming in at No.2 is the classic filling, "salmon." What could be the reason for this choice?

"I love salmon onigiri the most! I'm used to eating salmon in my home country, but the salmon in Japanese onigiri is simple yet incredibly flavorful. It's not too sweet or too salty; the saltiness is just right!" (Russia / Female / 20s)

"Japanese salmon onigiri is fantastic because you can really taste the flavor of the salmon itself. The pink color is also very appetizing." (Canada / 20s / Male)

"I love salmon so much that I want to eat it every day. Recently, I've been buying salmon flakes at the supermarket and trying to make onigiri every morning. But they never turn out as beautifully triangular as the ones in Japanese convenience stores... (laughs)" (China / Teens / Female)

The reason "salmon" is ranked second seems to be that salmon itself is a "familiar ingredient" in many foreigners' home countries. The desire for plain rice and the perfect balance of saltiness seem to resonate with foreign palates.

As a side note, we have a unique response to share:

"It seems that in Japan, people call salmon onigiri both 'sake onigiri' and 'shake onigiri.' Which one is the correct pronunciation?" (USA / 20s / Male)

In Japan, the pronunciation of "salmon" varies, and both "sake" and "shake" are used. According to the "Kojien," a representative Japanese language dictionary, the correct pronunciation is "sake." "Shake" is considered a dialect and is believed to have originated from the Edo period when people in certain regions had difficulty pronouncing the "sa-shi-su-se-so" syllables correctly. While there are various theories, the "dialect theory" is currently the most accepted explanation.

If someone asks you for a recommended onigiri filling, be sure to say, "Sake onigiri!" with the correct pronunciation.

"I tried the 'dry curry onigiri' from a convenience store, but it tasted completely different from what I had imagined. I'm used to the taste of curry in my home country, so I didn't really like it. It was quite disappointing..." (Malaysia / 20s / Female)

Japanese convenience stores offer unique onigiri variations like "fried rice" and "omelette rice." One of them is the "dry curry onigiri." However, as you may know, there are various types of curry around the world. For example, in Malaysia, spicy chicken curry with a strong taste of chicken and coconut milk is a staple. The flavor of this curry is entirely different from Japanese curry. Foreigners who are accustomed to the taste of curry in their home countries might be disappointed when trying "dry curry onigiri" in Japan, as the taste may not align with their expectations.

What we learned from this survey is that "foods and ingredients familiar to the individual" tend to be favored by foreigners. In particular, onigiri with "tuna mayo" filling from convenience stores is immensely popular and loved by foreigners from various regions.

On the other hand, it's surprising to see that the classic Japanese onigiri filling, "umeboshi" (pickled plum), received much less favorable reviews than expected. Taste preferences vary, but the comment about being unable to eat rice with fruit was particularly noteworthy and provided a unique perspective from foreigners.

In conclusion, aside from the onigiri fillings that made the ranking in this survey, there are many other delicious options like "okaka" (bonito flakes), "kombu" (kelp), and "mentaiko" (spicy cod roe). While "tuna mayo" and "salmon" are great choices, encouraging foreigners to try various fillings can introduce them to new flavors and the joy of choosing different ingredients. Since onigiri is a beloved Japanese soul food, it's a wonderful opportunity to share the diverse world of onigiri with people from other countries.