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Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Amethyst99, yes, you assume correctly that rice is widely available in Japan- that's like wondering if you can find sand in the Sahara! It is short-grain though. Brown rice also widely available in Tokyo at least.

Whole wheat bread is probably the only thing you will have problems finding- I have yet to see the chewy, grainy kind of brown bread anywhere but at specialist bakeries.

Ookami.K · Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 15

I started testing being a vegan about two weeks ago. I haven't bought or made anything that was not vegan, but if someone gave me something - didn't turn them down. Over time, I would like to become fully vegan for health and ethical issues (world hunger, as I couldn't care less about the animals themselves). The local SATY seems to carry everything I would need, from whole grain bread to soy milk to fruits and vegetables.

I know that I am not getting enough vegetables though. With all of the packages of ramen, I figured there would at least be some Campbell's (fairly unhealthy) soup in the international section - but to no avail. Is there anywhere I can get vegetable soup? What other ways are there to easily get helpings of vegetables in Japan?

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Canned vegetable soup is very high in sodium and sometimes preservatives, and not something you want to eat often if you are vegan for health reasons. I am extremely culinarily challenged, but I can make my own vegetable soup easily, just chop them up small, add some garlic paste, basil etc or whatever spices you like, and boil for 10 minutes or so. You can freeze what you don't eat straight away- make a week's worth each time so you don't have to do it too often.

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

met my first japanese vegetarian last week..

She informed me that a lot of the stuff I've been eating here isn't truly veggie..

but I cant givup me toast in the mornin!
Anyone know a brand of marg that is ok?

O yeah...seriously is tempe available 'everywhere'?

Ta

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Give up butter and marg altogether and use extra virgin olive oil!

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I never eat butter or marg either- have never liked either. I don't really find it necessary if you have jam or Vegemite or whatever on the toast. Tempe is found with the other beans in my local supermarket, but don't know if you would always find it in more rural areas. It is a staple in macrobiotic food I think, so shouldn't be too difficult to find.

bule_boy69 · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 158 Location: Jakarta

musicmunky · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 34

Hi guys,

I'm moving to Saitama city next month and wonder if anyone can recommend me any tips about being veggy over there. Does anyone know of any yoga classes in the area too?

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

To be honest, the best way to be a vegetarian in Japan or anywhere else for that matter, is to make the food yourself. Carry what you need after you make it in the morning. It is all about discipline really isn't it. You're choosing what to eat after all.

If socialising is an issue for those who do not respect your choices, then maybe you are in the wrong crowd. There are many a times when I have gone with friends happily munching away at the steaks when I have already had my meal beforehand. It is not so much as in the food, but as in the friendship. Oddly, quite a few of such friends themselves also become keen on vegetarianism. Especially when they see the culling and slaughter of animals in the news.

But what you will find is when you take the responsibility of being vegetarian in a foreign country, you will eventually find places that are vegetarian serving or selling such foods. Though, even if place says they are vegetarian, how sure are you ?

But don't beat your head if you misread a label on a box or don't understand it and taken up some gelatine which had animal fat. Use your sense of judgement. A small overdose of animal product is not going to overwelm the other 99% of your vegetarian stomach. You could be worried only if you have an allergy of phobia to some foods. Overtime, you'll begin to fine tune your instincts as to what is right for you or not.

I became a vegetarian a long way back. Simply because I couldn't think of why there was a peice of dead animal in front of me when I could eat a fresh vegetable.

One other note, Japan is generally quite a healthy conscious country so you'll get a lot of support there.