The Japanese Embassy in India is here with a super exciting Indo-Japan Food Culture Exchange to celebrate 70 years of the two countries’ relationship. If that long awaited trip to Japan isn’t looking possible just yet, here’s a shortcut to experiencing all things Japan- right here in India! Would you be surprised if we said that Japanese and Indian cuisines have more in common than what meets the eye? Here’s everything we found similar in both cultures.
Remember slurping chuski at India Gate? Well, your Japanese friends might be relishing Kakigori (shaved ice coated with colorful sugar syrup) in Tokyo. Matcha tea and Tempura is the Japanese equivalent of your favorite combo of chai pakora. If you are an anime fan, you know the Japanese love eating rice just like us. So if you love rice, you will find a slice of India in Japan too, but a little sticker version of it. Interestingly, we found similarities in the festival food made in both the countries as well. For example, consider our fried and stamped Thekua that children so eagerly wait to gorge on for Chatt Puja in winters. Japan has their own version called a Taiyaki which is a fish shaped sweet, super famous amongst kids during winter festivals. Apart from the food, did you know Japan celebrates a doll festival called Hinamatsuri much like the Golu in South India? We were pleasantly surprised to know we had quite a lot in common with Japan!
If you are as curious as us to know more, you could read more about the anniversary celebrations here. They have invited some of India’s mega influencers to taste real Japanese food and we believe it will be a scrumptious feast!