| Do you love Japanese food? The funny thing | | | | soup and side dishes. A meal with one okazu is |
| about Japanese food is that you either love it or | | | | called ichiju-issai and a prime example of this is the |
| you hate it. There is no in-between. And chances | | | | traditional Japanese breakfast which consists of |
| are, if you hate it, you probably haven't really | | | | miso soup, rice, grilled fish and one pickled |
| tasted Japanese food yet or haven't given | | | | vegetable. |
| yourself a chance to sample it enough. Japanese | | | | The regular Japanese meal usually involves three |
| food is hard to appreciate after only one bite. And | | | | okazu to go along with the soup, rice and pickles. |
| sometimes, the idea that you are tasting raw | | | | Traditionally, each of these three okazu are |
| food just won't escape your mind that you are | | | | cooked in a different way from the others. They |
| already predisposed to hating Japanese food even | | | | can either be served raw or grilled, simmered, |
| before you actually taste it. | | | | steamed or deep fried. |
| Personally, I love Japanese food. There really is no | | | | Another hallmark of Japanese food is seafood, |
| other cuisine like it in the world in terms of its | | | | which is the most popular and most widely |
| unique taste and presentation. Who would believe | | | | consumed food in Japan. The most popular dishes |
| that something so raw could be so delicious? For | | | | include all types of fish as well as shellfish, squid |
| those of you who have not yet discovered the | | | | and octopus. Crab is another favorite delicacy and |
| pleasures of Japanese food, allow me to present | | | | so are whale and seaweed. Despite the fact that |
| the following primer. | | | | Japanese are not heavy meat eaters, you will |
| The standard Japanese meal always involves a | | | | hardly find any vegetarians among them either |
| bowl of white rice as well as soup and side dishes | | | | probably owing to their deep fashion for seafood. |
| such as pickles, vegetables, meat and fish. | | | | Beef and chicken are also popular among the |
| Japanese food is classified by the number of | | | | Japanese. |
| viands or "okazu" that are served with the rice, | | | | |