Vegetarianism and Vegetarian Restaurants in Tokyo

Article by Dylan Robertson.

Yogis and yoginis visiting Japan often have difficulty finding food they can eat. As I found out for myself, it’s tough to be a vegetarian in Japan. My 5 years of being vegetarian came to an end after my first year of living in Japan. I just couldn’t handle always being the “difficult, fussy, and weird vegetarian foreigner”, and so gave up. Yet, I still do my best to avoid eating much meat.

So I’m really no expert on being a vegetarian in Japan. But, in this post, I’d like to share what I’ve learned and experienced about vegetarianism in Japan. If you have any more tips or advice, do feel free to share via the comments box below.

Why Vegetarianism is Not Popular in Japan

Well, here is my theory.

1. Throughout most of Japan’s history, people ate very little meat. However, the traditional Japanese diet, mainly plant-based, contained various animal proteins in small quantities. In Western society people often have major health problems because of diets overly rich in animal protein, but this wasn’t an issue in Japan until quite recently. As the problem itself is relatively new, there isn’t much awareness that vegetarianism is healthier.
2. Until recently, the only people who were strict vegetarians in Japan were either Buddhist monks or people who had to avoid meat due to allergies or other medical reasons.
3. After World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Forces. In those days, most Japanese still ate the traditional diet which resulted in the average person being quite petite and short in stature. Most had never seen a westerner in person. So, the tall and full-bodied Allied Forces soldiers were something of a shock as they seemed much bigger and stronger than the average Japanese. And as the country recovered from war, it was increasingly exposed to foreign media such as Hollywood movies. From these experiences and influences, the Japanese began to associate eating meat with strength, health and wealth. They were unaware of the negative effects of eating meat.
4. In modern Japan, the quiet and gentle messages encouraging people to be vegetarian for better health, animal welfare and eco-friendliness are drowned out by powerful commercial advertising for fast food restaurants. Most people therefore see eating meat as perfectly normal and essential for health.
5. In Japanese society, group harmony and fitting in are very important. So, when you eat out with friends, colleagues, etc., you are expected to do your best to fit in and make a show of enjoying the food – unless you absolutely can’t eat it for religious or medical reasons. If you are a vegetarian, you will inevitably stick out like a sore thumb.

Communication Issues

Most Japanese seem to equate vegetarianism with not eating beef. So, if you ask, “Does this have meat in it?” they will think you are asking, “Does this have beef in it?” So, even if there is fish, chicken, pork or bacon, etc. in it, they’ll say it doesn’t have “meat”, intending to say that it doesn’t have beef. Also, many Japanese soups and noodle dishes have animal-based stock in the soups. Most Japanese are not aware that these would be an issue for a vegetarian and so will not think to mention it.

These people are not trying to discriminate or make life difficult for vegetarians – they just don’t know any better. So please be patient with them and have a sense of humor.

Phrases in Japanese for Vegetarian Food

Japanese menus can sometimes be difficult to read – even for a foreigner who regards themselves as bilingual. There are a lot of specialized vocabulary and Chinese characters that one wouldn’t come across otherwise. Bilingual menus may be available, but they could be incorrectly translated.

Therefore, when you eat out it would be ideal if you have a Japanese friend with you who understands exactly what you can and can’t eat, so they can check the menu and clarify with the restaurant staff when necessary.

However, for those times when you are alone, you may want to try learning the phrases listed on the following websites:

• International Vegetarian Union (IVU)
• Tokyo Gig Guide

Finding Vegetarian Restaurants in Tokyo

Being a vegetarian can be tough especially in a country where you can’t read or speak the language. Here are some English-language restaurant directories that list vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo:

• Bento.com
• Happy Cow
• Tokyo Essentials
• Vegie Tokyo

When all else fails, try to find an Indian restaurant run by Indians. They are all over the place and there is usually one near every major train station. The Indian staff usually speak some English. They will often have English menus available and, even if they are not vegetarians themselves, they will have a better understanding of your needs as a vegetarian because it is a big part of their home country’s culture.

Meeting Other Vegetarians in Japan

If you’ll be staying here for a while, you may like to meet some Japanese vegetarians who can give you tips on good restaurants, places to shop, and what to say when ordering food. Get a Japanese friend to help you navigate through Mixi, Japan’s local equivalent of FaceBook, which has several vegetarian and vegan communities that often hold events. At the time of writing this, there were no vegetarian groups on FaceBook for Japan, but there is one called “Healthy Restaurants in Tokyo”, which should be sympathetic.