Question 1

Is dashi vegan?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Plain だし (dashi) in Japan is most often made with bonito (かつお) or dried sardines. Kelp (昆布) and shiitake (椎茸) dashi are plant-based, so ask what it's made from: だしは何ですか？ (dashi wa nan desu ka?).

More: だし: stock ->

Question 2

Is miso soup vegan in Japan?

Accepted Answer

Almost never. The miso paste is soybeans, but the soup is made on a dashi base, usually fish. Ask for your set meal without it, or ask whether the dashi is kelp only.

Question 3

Is soy sauce vegan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, regular soy sauce (醤油) is soybeans, wheat and salt. Watch out for だし醤油 (dashi soy sauce) and noodle sauces (めんつゆ), which usually contain bonito.

Question 4

Is sushi vegan?

Accepted Answer

Some is. Cucumber rolls (かっぱ巻き, kappa-maki) are usually vegan: they're named after us kappas, who love cucumber. Inari pouches are often simmered in a broth with bonito, and tamago is egg. Sushi rice is seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt; some shops add kelp, so ask if you're unsure.

More: 油揚げ: fried tofu pouch ->

Question 5

Is ramen vegan in Japan?

Accepted Answer

Not by default: most broths are pork, chicken or fish, and some noodles contain egg. Look for shops with a dedicated vegan ramen, and ask whether the broth is cooked in its own pot.

Question 6

What can I eat at a konbini as a vegan?

Accepted Answer

Read the label. Good signs: 動物性原材料不使用 (no animal ingredients), 植物性 (plant-derived), soy milk, plain tofu, fruit and nuts. Skip anything with 肉, エキス, だし, 乳成分 or 卵. Kelp or plum onigiri can work, but check the list for かつお.

More: All the label words ->

Question 7

How do I say “I'm vegan” in Japanese?

Accepted Answer

ヴィーガンです (viigan desu). Then name what you don't eat: 肉、魚、だし、卵、乳製品、はちみつは食べません (niku, sakana, dashi, tamago, nyuseihin, hachimitsu wa tabemasen).

More: The word “vegan” ->

Question 8

Does “vegetarian” mean vegan in Japan?

Accepted Answer

No. ベジタリアン often just means no meat: fish stock, egg and dairy can still be in the dish. Name the ingredients you avoid instead.

Question 9

What is otoshi?

Accepted Answer

A small starter served automatically in many izakaya and charged as a cover. It's often not vegan: ask when you sit down whether it can be made vegan.

Question 10

Is Japanese bread vegan?

Accepted Answer

Rarely. Most soft bread contains milk, butter or egg, and bakery items often have no label. Crusty “hard” breads are simpler, but ask anyway.

Question 11

Are Japanese allergen labels enough to check if food is vegan?

Accepted Answer

No. Only 9 allergens must be listed, including egg, milk, shrimp and crab. Meat, fish and gelatine are only recommended, and bonito, sardines and honey aren't on any list. Read the whole ingredient list.

More: What a label must tell you ->

Question 12

Is mirin vegan?

Accepted Answer

Real mirin (本みりん) is made from rice and is vegan. Cheaper mirin-style seasonings (みりん風調味料) and cooking sake (料理酒) can have other things added: read the list.