Japanese Curry: An Introduction & Different Ways To Enjoy It

One of the most often animated Japanese dishes, curry rice, is gaining popularity around the globe. And with good reason: it’s so popular in Japan that the average Japanese household has curry at least once a week.What Is Japanese Curry Rice?Japanese Curry HistoryWhat Are The Different Ways To Try Japanese Curry?Where Can I Get Japanese Curry?What Is Japanese Curry Rice?© Photo by iStock: paylessimagesConsidered by many to be the national dish of Japan, curry rice (カレーライス, kare raisu) bears very little resemblance to Indian curry.

Japanese curry is typically a mild curry sauce with onions, carrots and potatoes, as well as a meat (pork, beef or chicken), served with white rice on the side and curry pickles (カレー漬物, kare tsukemono). Easily cooked in large batches and very nutritious, Japanese curry is considered to be a hearty comfort food.Japanese Curry History© Photo by iStock: TkKurikawaCurry first came to Japan via the British during the Meiji Era as a spice mix.



It was adopted into the Japanese language and diet from 1860 to 1870. At that time, it was luxurious food that could only be found in the most expensive restaurants. So, only the wealthiest could afford this imported delicacy.

Later, it gained traction as a means of warding off thiamine (vitamin B1 deficiency) by the Imperial Japanese Navy. It is still a staple meal for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force today.In fact, one of the most common types of curry is known as 海軍カレー (kaigan kare; “navy curry”).

It contains beef or chicken, potatoes, onions, carrots, rice and pickled vegetable chutney (later with a salad on the side). After its popularity with the military, curry then became a school lunch staple and was more widely available throughout the 1920s thanks to domestic production of the spices. By the 1960s, curry roux and kits became commercially available in supermarkets as well.

What Are The Different Ways To Try Japanese Curry?There are a number of ways to enjoy Japanese curry.Curry Bread/Buns© Photo by iStock: kawamura_lucyCurry bread (カレーパン, kare pan) is a portion of Japanese curry that has been wrapped in dough, dipped in breadcrumbs and then fried. You can find curry bread in any convenience store or bakery.

Some come with a soft-boiled egg inside, others can be entirely vegetarian, and some come with whole wheat or even bran dough instead of white flour.Although somewhat less common, you can also find 焼きカレーパン (yaki kare pan; “baked curry buns”). They are somewhat healthier than their fried counterparts.

Curry Noodles© Photo by iStock: noririnCurry udon/soba noodles, and less commonly ramen, are more often made in restaurants/delis than at home, but are just as popular as their rice counterparts. The roux is added to the traditional dashi (stock) and soy sauce soup base of the noodles, and it may or may not include some vegetables and meat.Curry Rice© Photo by iStock: karimitsuCurry with rice, however, is the most typical way of serving Japanese curry.

While it’s fine on its own, there are a few standard ways to arrange the dish that have become popular in Japan and abroad as well.Japanese Curry Rice VarietiesYes, that’s right. Japanese curry rice comes in a variety of different forms, too.

Look out for these options the next time you’re out in Japan:Dry CurryDry curry comes in two forms: either curry-flavored fried rice or white rice with a drier, minced meat and vegetable curry sauce on top. It may or may not also be served with a soft-boiled egg.Soup CurrySoup curry features a bowl of a more watery curry sauce with coarsely chopped vegetables and whole chicken legs or wings.

Originally from Hokkaido, it’s served with rice on the side.Katsu CurryJapanese curry served with a breaded pork, beef or chicken cutlet on top. This curry seems to be especially popular among foreign visitors to Japan.

It can be found at a number of popular chain stores such as:Coco Ichibanya (ココイチ): A leading katsu curry chain known for its customizable spice levels and variety of toppings.Gogo Curry (ゴーゴーカレー): Famous for its rich, Kanazawa-style curry with a dark, flavorful sauce.Katsuya (かつや): Popular for serving both tonkatsu and katsu curry in a fast-casual format, offering a variety of options.

Croquette CurryJapanese curry served with a croquette on top. The croquettes can be made of seafood, meat, potato or vegetable varieties.Maze KareMaze kare (混ぜカレー), or mixed curry, originated in Osaka and is served with the curry already mixed into the rice.

Curry DonCurry don (カレー丼) is a thick curry sauce with added Japanese sauce (such as tsuyu or dashi) served on top of a bowl of rice. It may or may not include vegetables, meat or pickles.Yaki Kare (Curry Gratin)Yaki kare (焼きカレー) is essentially curry on rice topped with a raw egg, then baked in an oven until the egg is somewhat or fully cooked and the curry has a slight crust.

Retort CurryRegional curries available in retort pouches of varying sizes are also extremely popular. These curries can feature regional meats and fruits or vegetables, such as shika (deer) curry from Hokkaido or apple curry from Nagano. These curries need only be reheated either by boiling in water or, if indicated on the label, by microwave and served alongside rice, or on udon or soba if you like.

Where Can I Get Japanese Curry?© Photo by iStock: kuppa_rockJapanese curry is mainly made at home and adjusted to suit an individual family’s tastes. There are dozens of curry roux sets and instant/retort-style curries to choose from. In fact, in some grocery stores, entire aisles are dedicated to it, and some specialty shops sell nothing but curry!If you’d like to prepare your own curry at home and are an adept chef, then simply purchasing the ingredients and a curry spice or curry powder will suffice.

One of the most famous brands of curry spice is S&B 赤缶カレー粉 (S&B akakan kareko; “S&B Spicy Curry Powder“).If you’re less of a dab hand in the kitchen but can follow a recipe fairly well, then a curry roux is probably more your speed. Pick up a box of this roux, the ingredients indicated on the back of the box, and follow the pictorial directions and tada, you have made Japanese curry.

These roux come in varying spiciness levels, so make sure you look on the box for the little red peppers or rank from one to five (one being mild, five being spicy) before you make your purchase. The most popular brands of curry roux are: House Vermont Curry (ハウス バーモントカレー)House Java Curry (ハウス ジャワカレー)Glico Zeppin Curry (江崎グリコ カレーZeppin)S&B Golden Curry (エスビー食品 ゴールデンカレー)If you’re in the mood for Japanese curry but aren’t interested in having leftovers for days, then getting take-out, dining at a casual establishment or getting a single-serving retort and rice for yourself are the perfect ways to savor this ubiquitous dish.Do you love Japanese curry as much as everyone else does? In the comments, tell us your favorite type.

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