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How Can I Eat Gluten Free In Japan?

spunkysparkle

By spunkysparkle
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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spunkysparkle Newbie
spunkysparkle
Posted

I'm studying Japanese at university and a week from now I'll begin a year as an exchange student at university! I'm pretty worried that I'm just going to stick to rice and plain fish as coeliac disease is basically unheard of there and soy sauce seems to be in everything. I'm very worried it will stop me staying at other people's houses or travelling to places where I won't be able to cook for myself.

My dietician doesn't know anything about eating gluten free in Japan and I wrote to the UK Coeliac society for advice but all they sent me was a thing on what foods people eat in Japan that didn't even mention which had gluten in! So I would love to hear about other people's experiences of eating gluten free in Japan. Oh, and is gluten free tamari easy to buy in Japan or should I bring loads with me? :S

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
I'm studying Japanese at university and a week from now I'll begin a year as an exchange student at university! I'm pretty worried that I'm just going to stick to rice and plain fish as coeliac disease is basically unheard of there and soy sauce seems to be in everything. I'm very worried it will stop me staying at other people's houses or travelling to places where I won't be able to cook for myself.

My dietician doesn't know anything about eating gluten free in Japan and I wrote to the UK Coeliac society for advice but all they sent me was a thing on what foods people eat in Japan that didn't even mention which had gluten in! So I would love to hear about other people's experiences of eating gluten free in Japan. Oh, and is gluten free tamari easy to buy in Japan or should I bring loads with me? :S

Actually celiac disease is on the rise in Japan as they are starting to eat a more 'westernized' diet. I have posted 2 links to dining cards. The second link has cards that you can actually print out. I googled Japan and gluten free and quite a bit came up but these should get you started. Have fun in Japan I have heard it is a wonderful place to visit and live.

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

TinkerbellSwt Collaborator
TinkerbellSwt
Posted

I am sorry I dont have any advice in this circumstance. I would look the links up that raven gave you.

I just wanted to say have a fun and safe trip !

BostonCeliac Apprentice
BostonCeliac
Posted

I've found that a lot of japanese food is gluten-free -- mainly because their main staple is rice. Especially the noodles - love them.. the soy sauce might be an issue for sure. Hopefully you'll be able to make a lot of your own food while there -- but I must say since I find most of the food I end up buying is japanese, it might work out OK.

You'll probably want to study up on the names and spellings of food - maybe something like this would help:

Open Original Shared Link

I would also familiarize myself with the symbols/names of things you cannot eat up front so you can stay away...

good luck! have a great trip.

spunkysparkle Newbie
spunkysparkle
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your help, suggestions and kind words. From what I know.. noodles are a bit of a problem as ramen, soba and udon are all made from wheat flour. Rice noodles are fine but are more a thai thing than Japanese. I'm a bit concerned that I won't be able to eat out as I'll come across as a fussy foreigner :S I'd love to hear from anyone who has had experience living in Japan as a coeliac but can't seem to find anyone else hehe.. er.. aside from a few people who said they just stuck to plain rice and plain fish all the time :S

eKatherine Apprentice
eKatherine
Posted
Thank you all for your help, suggestions and kind words. From what I know.. noodles are a bit of a problem as ramen, soba and udon are all made from wheat flour. Rice noodles are fine but are more a thai thing than Japanese. I'm a bit concerned that I won't be able to eat out as I'll come across as a fussy foreigner :S I'd love to hear from anyone who has had experience living in Japan as a coeliac but can't seem to find anyone else hehe.. er.. aside from a few people who said they just stuck to plain rice and plain fish all the time :S

I haven't been to Japan, but I studied Japanese and Japanese culture, so you can decide what my advice is worth.

The traditional Japanese diet is based on white rice, miso (may contain wheat) soup, and pickles (?). I am not sure about what sort of ingredients labeling you will see, and unless you are very fluent in written Japanese, it would be easy to miss something. Unless you are extremely fluent in spoken Japanese, you will have difficulty finding out if restaurant food contains wheat or barley, both common. But if you do find out that some preparation does contain gluten, you will probably find it impossible to get anything cooked special for you at any but the most expensive restaurants, as Japanese restaurants are not designed on the "have it your way" principle.

Japanese families often eat Chinese food when they eat out. Sounds scary. I suggest you try to eat at home as much as possible. Maybe you can find yourself some neighborhood sakaya where you can train the owner to serve you white rice and safe snacks.

chgomom Enthusiast
chgomom
Posted

I have lived and worked in Japan for many years, and I work as a Japanese translator.

On my travels there, you can not eat:

Seaweed, unless dry roasted (so like at a Sushi bar you have to have Sashimi, not sushi) unless that can assure you there is no soy sauce in it (because soy sauce is cured with wheat)

There are lots of breads in Japan...obviously a no no....

You can, eat rice balls...with salmon or tuna inside, just make sure it has no mayo...

You can eat fresh grilled meats....fish and vegetables...

Fruit ices....

You can also have a traditional dish called Suki Yaki....minus the soy sauce...

There are an array of specialty tea drinks and coffee shops....

Fruit is very expensive....but may be worth it.

You do also have specialty diet shops....and if you told me where your university there I could tell you where they might be I have associates all over different areas of Japan.

I would bring a few of your safe Tamari's with you.

HOWEVER I work in export and import...and taking food with you, even on the plane is being frowned upon.

Check with your university and the airline just to be sure.

But I would definitely try to take some with to get by.

Most Tamari is WHEAT free....but not necessarily gluten free...

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bon5151 Newbie
bon5151
Posted
I'm studying Japanese at university and a week from now I'll begin a year as an exchange student at university! I'm pretty worried that I'm just going to stick to rice and plain fish as coeliac disease is basically unheard of there and soy sauce seems to be in everything. I'm very worried it will stop me staying at other people's houses or travelling to places where I won't be able to cook for myself.

My dietician doesn't know anything about eating gluten free in Japan and I wrote to the UK Coeliac society for advice but all they sent me was a thing on what foods people eat in Japan that didn't even mention which had gluten in! So I would love to hear about other people's experiences of eating gluten free in Japan. Oh, and is gluten free tamari easy to buy in Japan or should I bring loads with me? :S

I'm studying Japanese at university and a week from now I'll begin a year as an exchange student at university! I'm pretty worried that I'm just going to stick to rice and plain fish as coeliac disease is basically unheard of there and soy sauce seems to be in everything. I'm very worried it will stop me staying at other people's houses or travelling to places where I won't be able to cook for myself.

My dietician doesn't know anything about eating gluten free in Japan and I wrote to the UK Coeliac society for advice but all they sent me was a thing on what foods people eat in Japan that didn't even mention which had gluten in! So I would love to hear about other people's experiences of eating gluten free in Japan. Oh, and is gluten free tamari easy to buy in Japan or should I bring loads with me? :S

bon5151 Newbie
bon5151
Posted

I just came back from a vacation in Tokyo, with my Japanese husband. My advice is to bring food with you, so you can eat safely until you find a Western grocery store there. I carried peanut butter and Lara fruit/nut bars in my suitcase. And yes, take your wheat-free tamari with you. I carried the bottle in my suitcase, but I've seen it advertised here packaged in take-out packets. I haven't been able to find it, though.

It was difficult to eat at Japanese restaurants, even with my husband's ability to ask questions in Japanese. In fact, I ate sashimi at sushi bars a few times, while my family (kids don't eat fish) ate at another restaurant nearby. Unfortunately, because the Japanese are in love with noodles, it seems their other favorite food is Italian. Not good for us, the gluten-free brigade. However, I did well at Indian restaurants. I'm hooked on dosas and they're made with either garbanzo or lentil flour (I forget which, but ask -- most of the Indian staff at Indian restaurants speak English).

In Japanese food, soy sauce is the dominant problem. It's always in the marinade, sauce, broth, etc. and miso is in everything else, including salad dressings. I ate a lot of onigiri (rice balls with tuna, salmon or pickles in the center). They're delicious -- 7-11 stores carry a variety of them, but they often run out in the early evening because people pick them up for an easy dinner on the way home from work. Most have seaweed on the outside, but when my husband asked, he was assured that the brand we bought had roasted, salted seaweed with no soy sauce. (Sorry I don't know which brand.)

I have to admit, in a moment of desperation, we went to Tokyo's Outback Steakhouse because I knew I could get a hearty, safe meal there.

In spite of the challenges, I had a great time and I'm sure you will, too.

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