The Charm and History of Japanese Curry, One of their National Dishes Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Apr 29 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

The Charm and History of Japanese Curry, One of their National Dishes

What kind of curry do you like? Is it the traditional one with a blend of various spices, or Thai curry with coconut milk? This article will introduce the Japanese type – mildly flavored chicken curry with potatoes and carrots. It is known as one of Japan’s national dishes together with ramen, and is so popular among the locals that some would claim to even drink the curry sauce on its own! So what are the characteristics of this favorite food of the Japanese? Let's take a look!

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Japanese curry: an exquisite Indian cuisine from the U.K.

Curry was brought to Japan from the U.K. during the Meiji era. At that time, the curry served to the British Royal Navy was not only thicker than Indian curry, but also had a lot of vegetables and meat. When curry came to Japan, since most of the ingredients like curry powder could only be imported from abroad, it was considered as an exotic delicacy reserved for the rich. Besides, as the cooking process required starting with stir frying the powder, making curry was quite complicated, and was not commonly found in ordinary families and restaurants.

It wasn't until the release of the first Japanese curry powder "Bee Curry" by "Yamatoya" from Osaka that the production cost of curry greatly dropped, and that was when curry started to appear in the menu of general restaurants. Some of the famous curry dishes created during that time include "Jiyuken's curry rice", and the "curry nanban noodles" often seen in soba noodle diners. On the other hand, curry products like the "curry cubes" developed by House Foods, and the "instant curry powder" released by Oriental Curry had turned curry into a truly affordable cuisine for every household.

The secret ingredients to making yummy Japanese curry

Compared to Indian curry, Japanese curry has a mellower flavor and can taste quite different depending on the spiciness. While generally speaking, the main components of Japanese curry are carrots, potatoes and onions, some people like to give it a twist by adding their own secret ingredients. Here are a few of them frequently used by curry experts in Japan.

1. Oyster sauce

According to a Japanese TV interview with curry experts, one of the secrets behind delicious curry is oyster sauce. They said adding about half a spoonful of oyster sauce to curry for 3 to 4 could make it smell and taste even better.

2. Pure cocoa powder

Another ingredient beloved by curry experts is "pure cocoa powder", as its bitterness can highlight and enrich the curry flavor. Similar to oyster sauce, simply add 5g to 10g of pure cocoa powder to curry cooked for 3 or 4 people.

3. Yogurt

Slightly sour yogurt is the key to making curry with a refreshing flavor. Not only does it enhance curry’s original flavor, the sourness of yogurt can also increase appetite and neutralize spiciness, perfect for those who prefer a more delicate taste. If you don't have yogurt at hand, try using vinegar instead.

Leaving curry out overnight? The hidden rules to making Japanese curry

As curry became a popular household dish in Japan, a lot of hidden rules for making and eating Japanese curry had emerged as well. Here are some of those interesting practices and controversies:

1. Eating curry with tsukemono (Japanese pickles)

It is common for the Japanese to eat curry with tsukemono like [fukujinzuke pickled daikon and leeks]. This habit originated from Japanese merchant ships in the early 20th century as the restaurants at sea would serve curry garnished with tsukemono. The two went unexpectedly well together, and therefore had slowly become a custom combo among commoners.

2. Eating separately or mixing together?

How do you like to eat curry? In Japan, there has always been heated discussions about whether to mix all curry with rice, or to eat them spoon by spoon. While some people think that the former method is very messy and would waste the original deliciousness of curry, some think it is meaningless and troublesome to separate them if they would just end up mixing together in the mouth. For now, the public tends to favor the latter. How about you?

3. Overnight curry is the best

In Japan, there is a saying that "overnight curry tastes even better", even among chefs. This is basically correct and scientifically proven, as leaving curry at room temperature for a night not only allows the ingredients to fully absorb the sauce, but also neutralizes the irritating taste that the Japanese dislike, making the curry more delicious. However, curry kept at room temperature goes bad easily and even reheating is not enough to rule out food poisoning. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to leave the food out all night.

So much more than just one type – the evolution of Japanese curry

Ever since the introduction of curry into Japan, a lot of unique flavors as well as innovative dishes have been created. Here are some of the highly recommended Japanese curry cuisines and restaurants that are worth a try!

Traditional Japanese curry

"Japanese curry" refers to traditional curry that suits the tastes of the Japanese, and is a simple recipe that every family can handle. While the ingredients vary greatly with the restaurant and family, the key to tastiness is always the curry paste. Nowadays, although most people like using curry cubes for seasoning, some would opt for traditional curry powder to personalize their favorite flavor.

There are many curry chain restaurants in Japan, so it’s not hard to find traditional Japanese curry to satisfy your curiosity and stomach. But if you would like to try Japanese curry with its original spiciness, Honkaku Spice Curry Yadocurry Temmabashi Main Branch is where you should go. To create premium, authentic curry with layers of aroma, they insist on mixing a variety of spices without using wheat flour and cream, and adding Japanese Kuroge Wagyu beef tendon and self-rendered pure beef tallow. The restaurant even serves the curry with tsukemono to give it a richer taste!

Honkaku Spice Curry Yadocurry Temmabashi Main Branch

Open: Lunch 11:40 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:45 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Lunch] 800 JPY
Access: Around a 3-minute walk from Exit 4 of [Temmabashi Station] on the Osaka Municipal Subway / Walk 150m from [Temmabashi Station] on the Keihan Electric Railway
Address: B1F, Castle River, 1-5-11, Tani-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Map
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Soup curry

In the creation of diverse Japanese curry tastes, much focus has been placed on the variation of ingredients. On the other hand, the [Soup curry] that originated from Sapporo is more about the flavor and eating method. It turned the generally thick sauce into curry-flavored soup filled with ingredients just like herbal soup, which has become the city’s specialty dish.

The best place to try curry-flavored soup is probably Yohohama. There you can find Yokohama Curry Alpin Jiro Flagship Shop, a curry restaurant particular about both the décor and the taste of food – its vintage interior design matches perfectly with the Yohohama vibes, and its original curry is made from 14 selected spices to preserve the flavor of every ingredient. Their most recommended dish is the aromatic [Seafood curry], cooked with shrimps and scallops seasoned with a mixture of spices. You will fall in love with the chunky, juicy seafood pieces and the rich curry taste for sure!

Yokohama Curry Alpin Jiro Flagship Shop

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 1,400 JPY / [Lunch] 1,100 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Bandobashi Station or Isezaki-chojamachi Station on Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line
Address: 1F, 3-26, Yayoi-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Map
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Navy curry

It is said that when curry first came to Japan, its taste was based on the curry served in the British navy battleship’s canteen. In order to prevent beriberi among Japanese marines who ate rice as staple food, they adopted the British naval force’s curry, which consisted of both vegetable and meat and was easy to prepare. Nowadays, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) continued this curry tradition, and even brought in something new by altering the seasonings and ingredients, creating a taste of their own with limited resources on the sea, namely the [navy curry].

In the past, people could only taste the [Navy curry] when visiting the JMSDF, but in recent years, it is also served in restaurants in Yokosuka where the JMSDF base is located, allowing those who like this special food to enjoy it anytime they want! RICO Cowbell is one of the most iconic navy curry restaurants. To recreate the classic, the owner simmers basic ingredients like beef, carrots, onions and potatoes until they fully absorb the sauce. He even keeps the navy tradition during the Meiji era of serving curry with a cup of milk, along with salad and tsukemono, adding extra deliciousness and uniqueness to the dish.

RICO Cowbell

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holiday] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 850 JPY
Access: Located in the shopping area.
Address: Plaza Kinugasa Nakadori Bldg. 1F, 1-70 Kinukasa Sakaecho, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa Map
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Curry udon noodles

Among numerous Japanese curry dishes, [Curry udon], replacing rice with udon, was quite a novelty at the time of its launch. Japanese broth is usually added into the curry to create a milder taste, which is why the dish is particularly popular among children. Another thing to note is that green onion is also known as nanban, and therefore curry udon garnished with chopped green onions is called [Curry nanban udon].

Yummy curry udon might not be hard to find, but one that perfectly suits your taste is not easy to come by. Hakata Udon Sakaba Wappachi is an Izakaya (casual Japanese bar) famous for its curry udon, as customers can adjust the spice level and add different side dishes to their liking. Besides the udon noodles, their oden (boiled hot pot dish) is also a must-try, particularly the [Whale tongue] and [Bean curd roll], which are hardly found elsewhere.

Hakata Udon Sakaba Wappachi

Open: 11:00 am - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Open all year round (follows the public holiday schedule of JR Hakata City Amu Plaza)
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Access: JR [Hakata Station] is the nearest station
Address: 10F, JR HAKATA CITY, 1-1 Hakataeki Chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Map
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So how many of these Japanese curries have you tried? With a wide range of options from traditional curry rice to curry udon, you would definitely find the perfect one to satisfy your taste buds!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.