Japan is well-known all over the world for its culinary delicacies. Today, its capital, Tokyo, stands proud as the city with the most number of Michelin star restaurants, far ahead of even its closest rival, Paris. There are just so many special dishes on offer across all the numerous culinary havens that dot the landscape of Japan.
Amid all this, there is absolutely no doubt at all that these gastronomic experiences are appreciated even better when there is greater familiarity with the Japanese language. After all, there is a lot of background to these exquisite dishes, which is much better understood and savoured when you know the story behind them.
Washoku
One of the foremost aspects of appreciating Japanese cuisine is to appreciate its Washokuform, which literally translates to “Japanese cuisine”, also referred to as Kappō or “culinary arts”. This is an affirmation of the artistic stature of Japanese cuisine whereby in many ways, it is an art form in itself. These intricacies are no doubt best appreciated when you are also very well familiar with the Japanese language. For starters (pardon the culinary pun!) you could always sign up for a Japanese course in Singapore.
Sushi
The ubiquitous sushi we so fervently consume in Singapore and indeed all over the world has so many different nuances, intricacies and forms to it which we don’t even realize until we align ourselves closer to Japanese culture. For instance, the staple ingredient “sushi rice” of sushi, referred to as sharior sumeshi can be brown or white rice and also medium or short grain.
Furthermore, it can be prepared with a variety of seafood which includes tuna, salmon, eel, or squid among others. The Japanese references to all the ingredients can be quite overwhelming. Which is why familiarity with the language is essential and can be obtained by signing up for a Japanese classes.
Noodles
Just as intricate and interesting as the sushi are the noodle variants in Japan. First, there is Udon, which refers to thick wheat noodles. Then there is Soba, a thinner form with a greyish-brown tinge since it contains buckwheat flour. With these noodles, you are likely to have shrimp tempurawhich is shrimp that is coated in batter and fried.
Along with noodles, there are various condiments called yakumi that go really well with them. Examples of the condiments include wasabi, shichimi, nori, and many more. Knowing these Japanese names definitely helps and can be made easy by signing up for language classes.
Wagashi
Once you’re done treating yourselves to some truly sumptuous Japanese main course items, it is time for desserts! Without further ado, we present to you, wagashi which is the Japanese term for desserts and sweets. Kakigōriis an excellent example of one such dessert, made with shaved ice, syrup, and a sweetener such as condensed milk.
Then there is the kids’ favourite – dorayakior sweet pancakes. Dorayaki is a red-bean pancake consisting of two pancake-like castella patties that are filled with a sweet red bean paste. Once again, Japanese classes come to the rescue to remembering these sweet treats!
Conclusion
Japanese cuisine is clearly in a league of its own; knowing the Japanese language will help you to appreciate it more. If you are keen on familiarising yourself with the language, you can easily sign up for Japanese courses in Singapore. With the right teacher and enough practice, you will master the new language in no time!
