Basic Information about Japanese Meals

Traditional Japanese food uses ingredients available during the season.
Breakfast might consist of miso soup, gohan (rice), nori (dried seaweed), pickles, and green tea.
Lunch is usually simple and consists of noodles (udon or soba).
Dinner might consist of rice, a main dish of fish or meat, a side dish of vegetables, miso soup, and pickled vegetables.

Japanese usually use chopsticks to eat.

Most Japanese restaurants show what they serve by displaying plastic food. The plastic food is quite expensive and very realistic as seen in the pictures below.


Before eating the meal, the Japanese say "Itadakimasu" which is a polite phrase meaning "I receive this food." This expresses thanks to the person who prepared the food.
At the end of the meal, the Japanese say "Gochiso-sama" which is a polite expression to give thanks for the delicious meal.

Traditional Japanese meals are often eaten on a tatami around a low table as shown below.


For more information about Japanese Food and dishes go to A Japanese Cookbook for Kids.