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I'm going to Japan, should i stop being Vegan for 11 days?
- Thread starter HotAndTender
- Start date
Gross. People like you are the problem.
You don't get to define anyone.
Eh it's just a matter of definition IMO. You really can't say you are vegan if you take holidays. Nothing wrong with that, just be truthful to yourself. No one is going to judge you. Or rather people probably will judge but who gives a fuck.
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Oh yeah, there was a segment on NHK this very evening about veganism. I'm trying to find out whether it's available online. Vegans exist in Japan, come and meet some of us during your trip!
One of the companies mentioned is T's Tan Tan. They have branches of their 100% vegan ramen shop in Tokyo station, Ueno station, Narita Airport and Sendai, with a more general restaurant in Jiyugaoka. Their ramen is famous and popular with omnivores too. There are also many other restaurants serving vegan ramen, so you won't miss out there.
As for street food, not sure exactly what you are referring to as it isn't such a big thing here (walking and eating is kind of a taboo). But I can show you where you can try vegan takoyaki, okonomiyaki, etc.
One of the companies mentioned is T's Tan Tan. They have branches of their 100% vegan ramen shop in Tokyo station, Ueno station, Narita Airport and Sendai, with a more general restaurant in Jiyugaoka. Their ramen is famous and popular with omnivores too. There are also many other restaurants serving vegan ramen, so you won't miss out there.
As for street food, not sure exactly what you are referring to as it isn't such a big thing here (walking and eating is kind of a taboo). But I can show you where you can try vegan takoyaki, okonomiyaki, etc.
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Gatekeeping? Perhaps
My brother says he is vegetarian. Yet he will eat meat on the odd occasion for family dinners or at Christmas. That means he isn't vegetarian.
Someone who says they are vegan but then doesn't mind not going vegan on holiday, is not vegan.
I eat mainly veggie food - but I do eat fish so I am pescatarian. I can't call myself vegetarian.
You can have a mainly vegan diet, but you have to phrase it like that, rather than saying 'I am a vegan'. imo you're not if you're not going to stick the principles of said diet.
Veganism isn't just a diet, though. There's many vegans that follow the very strict diet that might still "disqualify" due to their clothes not being vegan, their bathroom supplies (shampoo, conditioner, makeup) not being vegan.
So if OP is doing their best to live a vegan lifestyle, why make up some arbitrary line ("can't take holidays!"). Why not just be chill and stop dictating what labels people can and cannot use?
Who is OP hurting by them calling themselves "vegan"?
But what if OP doesn't wanna meet and hang out fellow vegans? (No offense to you, of course)
Nobody is debating that it's perfectly doable to live a vegan lifestyle in Tokyo. That still requires a certain amount of research and pre-planning though.
OP is going to Tokyo as a vacation and they might be busy enough already trying to schedule everything they wanna see and do in Tokyo and make the trip worthwhile - i can totally see how they'd like to skip the whole "strictly vegan diet" thing in a country where
a) they have better things to do than schedule their meals around availability of vegan options
b) people speak an entirely different language and many aren't familiar with the concept of veganism.
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I'd be most worried about this. Vegan myself and Japan is a dream trip for me, I also worry I would miss out but I think ill take my chances not eating meat if I ever go. A bit disappointing, but idk if want to sit on the toilet all trip for risking a meal.
Yeah I agree. All depends on the definition but - personally - I'm a believer in sticking to your principles so you can't just turn your stances on/off like a tap. But hey, each to their own. You only live once and all that. Reflect on it and follow what's right for you OP.
Disclaimer: I couldn't go vegan even if I wanted to, so more power to you. But I find it weird how you're a seemingly convinced vegan yet you seem to be okay with throwing away your principles for a vacation. If you did it just for health reasons (which you did at first), then okay, but you also claim the animal aspect has become something you consider important to you now.
Hell I've found legitimate vegan ramen in Kyoto and Osaka, it's far from impossible. Pretty sure Mos Burger has extensive veggie options, too. Being veggie is more than just finding "meat alternatives."
I'm sure this isn't the intent, but it's not nice to shame people for being lenient on their diet choices. I know plenty of vegans who have made drunken mistakes when it comes to food, and they admit that it's just something that can happen whether they intend it to or not.
If you want to experience a bunch of other food choices, go for it.
You'd need to start reintroducing animal products into your diet now to be able to handle eating any of it while you are overseas.
You can also enjoy vegetarian and vegan dishes in Japan, so don't think you HAVE to eat animal based products.
In the end it is your body, your values, your choice.
You'd need to start reintroducing animal products into your diet now to be able to handle eating any of it while you are overseas.
You can also enjoy vegetarian and vegan dishes in Japan, so don't think you HAVE to eat animal based products.
In the end it is your body, your values, your choice.
I'd say don't be too strict about it because Japan can be hard for vegans and vegetarians . A lot of the ramen broths will use fish or meat based stocks, you probably wouldn't even know unless you asked. That shouldn't upset your stomach too much. Fish tends to be a bit easier to adapt to if you have to. I'm a "vegan" at home (mainly due to supporting my wifes choices) but when I travel for work I'm not religious about it depending on locale. I'll attempt to avoid red meat and chicken and dairy if I can help it mainly due to the potential for stomach upsets: dairy and red meat is worse for this. Hell even in the UK now if I'm pressed for time, I might pick up a wrap or sandwich which has mayo in it if I don't have a choice (it's a lot better now than it used to be but you can still get caught out, and sometimes frankly the vegan selection is too limited). If I'm at a restaurant and there's not a good vegan or vegetarian option (again rarer now that there is not), then I'll go for fish
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It is extremely hard and expensive to be a vegan in Japan though. You cannot even ask them to change the menu because they won't. If you don't mind cooking for yourself everyday you should be fine but fruits and veggies are generally not cheap. If the OP is traveling around a lot and doesn't want/need undue stress on finding proper food they should just go vegetarian for their stay.
yep.
dashi is everywhere and stuff that looks vegetarian probably has fish based products in it. nearly unavoidable, though easier in tokyo than elsewhere.
eating as a vegan tourist in Japan is very hard.
its not that hard. just eat rice, tofu and otsukemonos.. also shojin ryori... usually its in kyoto though.
We went for our honeymoon in 2013 and my wife had serious difficulty finding vegetarian options there -- ultimately she ended up eating a TON of egg salad sandwiches from Lawson, 7-11, Family Mart, etc.. I can imagine vegan would be *incredibly* difficult. A friend just spent some time there and said she found an app which indicated where veggie options were nowadays so I am sure it's a little easier than back then, but it's just not a way of eating that is common in Japan.
When my wife asked (in 2013) a lot of times they wouldn't understand her question and one time the person said no meat, just chicken when describing the dish.
When my wife asked (in 2013) a lot of times they wouldn't understand her question and one time the person said no meat, just chicken when describing the dish.
what about onigiris with umeboshis in it. its basically a riceball with seaweed and a pickled plum inside.
Sure but it sounds like OP is considering just diving in and eating Kobe beef and sushi.
Don't want to presume OP's financial situation but I'm guessing if they can afford a trip to Japan they could afford Japanese fruits and veggies.
I was there in December and it was very easy to eat vegetarian. I wouldn't be surprised if I ate some stuff with fish broth but I didn't knowingly consume any fish, cows, chickens, etc.
Lol don't waste your Japan trip being a vegan.
Shabu Shabu, Yakiniku, Sukiyaki, Gyoza, Yakitori, Sushi, Sashimi, Tonkatsu, Wagyu, Katsu Sando!
Shabu Shabu, Yakiniku, Sukiyaki, Gyoza, Yakitori, Sushi, Sashimi, Tonkatsu, Wagyu, Katsu Sando!
They probably don't eat out much or they live in one of the top 5 cities and know where to go.
I think I've had "vegan" gyoza.
Do whatever you want. It's your life. If you think that will make you enjoy your trip more, do it. You shouldn't give a shit about anyone else's opinion.
What you do have to worry about is whether your body will react well to suddenly eating meat again. Be careful with that.
What you do have to worry about is whether your body will react well to suddenly eating meat again. Be careful with that.
Again, not true if you are a vegetarian who actually cares about eating bits of animals. I've been vegan for about three and a half years in Japan and lacto-ovo vegetarian the same amount of time before that. The only real difference is I no longer buy shitty anpan type crap from convenience stores (which likely aren't completely vegetarian anyway).
Most foods which are 100% vegetarian in Japan are also vegan. They don't have a tradition of dairy or eggs, and most products containing them also contain animal products. Anywhere that sells plain old milk or eggs has soy milk or tofu anyway.
I'm not a fan of tonkotsu ramen but that's almost all you can find in London. You can get soy sauce base or miso based (miso is my favourite) - but I still wouldn't bet on it not having dashi or something added
Aside from what you WANT to do, being even a vegetarian in Japan isn't easy. Not a lot of restaurants offer veggie options. It's just a reality here. My friend is able to strong arm people into making veggie versions of what she wants, but she also eats very little, and sometimes just lives off some cabbage or some shit, so if you want to eat properly, not really the way to go.
I dunno man. Here in Osaka, I constantly have to do research to find places that have veggie options when I take out friends that are vegetarian. And Japanese people generally consider fish vegetarian for some reason if you try to ask for veggie options.
I'm not denying you have to do research, but I've already done it and so I'm offering to share that knowledge. There are apps like happy cow and local Facebook groups that I have found so much helpful information from, including which restaurants are open to changing their recipes. There's a wonderful support network for vegans here, and whenever tourists come to our events they have a great time and leave with a lot of great tips and much less anxiety about the rest of their trip.
Soy sauce and miso are chicken based. Ramen is "Chinese food," and the "dashi" is almost certainly chicken. It's not niboshi (sardines) or some other traditional Japanese base.
OP
OP
Thanks for all you inputs. I know i can go being a vegan no problem, knowing that veganism isn't as popular as it is in Europe is the issue so might be a scruggle eating the simplest things. I'm not going until April 2020 so have plenty of time to research.
And as many of the replies suggest, i wouldn't want to spend the 11 days on the toilet if i jumped straight back into eating meat.
And as many of the replies suggest, i wouldn't want to spend the 11 days on the toilet if i jumped straight back into eating meat.
The situation will probably be even better by then, a lot of places are increasing vegan options as the Olympics approach. Please let me know if you have any questions or want recommendations for various cities. I can probably put you in touch with local vegans anywhere that you're headed.
OP
OP
I think the biggest struggle is just the cultural awareness of vegetarianism. It should actually be easier to be vegetarian in Japan, because of konbu as an ingredient for making broth, and how meals are centered around carbs rather than proteins. But because the idea of not eating animals to reduce animal suffering isn't a thing, it can be hard to navigate dishes where fish finds it's way in surprising places. Making vegan Japanese food for yourself is probably extremely easy. Finding it in the wild and ascertaining whether or not it's vegan might be hard.
I don't think you'll be stuck on the toilet from something that's been simmered in dashi.
I think you will enjoy yourself a lot more and more fully experience the culture if you suspend your diet a bit. Ordering food everywhere is going to be a bit of a chore, and you might end up eating animal products anyway. I'm sure you can eat mostly vegetarian at least, but I wouldn't be hyper strict about it. Enjoying your food in japan is one of the highlights, so I'd recommend letting go for just your vacation
as i said in my post, that personally really wasn't a problem for me after 8 hardcore veggie years.
i just saw a poster for subway's "vegetarian sandwich" that actually meant "pork plus a lot of veggies" and gave up.
I suggest try to be as vegan as possible. Hit up that poster in Japan that has tips for you how to do so.
If you can't go full vegan, just go vegetarian/pescatarian as needed to fill in the gaps. It is wonderful you are trying to forgo hurting animals- but don't make yourself sick to accomplish your goal. If you allow yourself broths and eggs (hidden in breads), you should be able to skirt by in a pinch.
If you can't go full vegan, just go vegetarian/pescatarian as needed to fill in the gaps. It is wonderful you are trying to forgo hurting animals- but don't make yourself sick to accomplish your goal. If you allow yourself broths and eggs (hidden in breads), you should be able to skirt by in a pinch.
Just call yourself an aspiring vegan. It's okay to not be perfect in the pursuit of veganism, but to try in itself is a noble goal. Enjoy some ramen and other assorted foods, then transition back to a predominately vegan diet. By cutting back at all, you're still lowering demand for animal products and should be congratulated. Thanks, OP
This came to my mind right away. I'd try to slowly get your body used to it over here before going to another country and going fully deep in