VEGETARIANS IN KAGAWA
2010年09月30日
Humming a few bars of ‘Singing in the Rain’, I was in a pretty good mood as I skipped into JC’s office. And then I thought, gee, there are some things will never change around here … The secretary was painting her nails, blowing them once in a while. A fan rattled in the corner and JC had his feet up on the desk listening to a horse race.
“What’s the big assignment boss?” I asked, taking off my cap and bicycle trouser clips.
‘Ahhh don’t sit down, you’ll be leaving soon.’‘Vegetarians in Kagawa’ he sniffed and said, leaving his feet up …
‘Yes, Vegetarians in Kagawa’.
‘Think you can handle it?’‘Not fool around looking for cheap laughs and free meals? Make it interesting?’‘Dig up some info?’
“Why of course I can! This is right up my alley JC!” I used to be a vegetarian for years.”
“Besides, this week the only pressing social engagement I have is the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance” so I’ll have it done pronto.”
And I was a vegetarian too. Honestly, I was. I’ve given it up for a while, as it was too hard for my long-suffering wife to make separate meals for me three times a day. The family has never been into it and I’ve never tried to coerce them. When things settle down I’ll return to a lacto (milk and eggs) vegetarian lifestyle, as I felt better for it and all things considered, it’s just better for the planet.
Some years ago, on retreats in a Buddhist temple kitchen in Okayama Prefecture I learned a little about Buddhist vegetarian cooking because I had to help out as a participant in these retreats a couple of times a year. Once every three days it was my turn to work in the kitchen and help the head cook. I’m no longer interested in doing retreats at all I should add. But the food I really do miss.
Retreats are silent affairs with 3:00 AM starts and last 7 or sometimes 9 days and the meals were a little spartan but great. There was a ‘no talking’ rule at all times and nothing fancy to eat. Traditional ‘Shojin Ryori’ vegetarian was the type of food we ate. This was often rice gruel based and typical temple food. Lots of tofu, sautéed eggplants in zesty garnishes, piles of genmai (brown rice) which is really good for you, topped with ground sesame seed and a pickled plum on top.
So here’s the good news: there’s no need to do a retreat for the experience, as my old friend Nishimura san has a mountain retreat center he pretty much built himself near a hot spring town called Shionue. By invitation, Nishimura san offers an afternoon of tea; quiet meditation and a meal cooked the same way in temples 700 years ago. These events are held periodically throughout the year and should you wish to attend, either contact me through the letters link on this page or to Nishimura san on his web site.
http://www.geocities.jp/ajiminatobansyo/
I should point out that he also has a great and inexpensive restaurant in Aji, a short drive out of Takamatsu and the food is not all vegetarian but pretty delicious. The restaurant is by application for a guest list sent out once a month. Here’s some information in Japanese on the above link for you. (don’t forget to click the top right button on the page for the map)
Being a lacto-vegetarian, vegetarian or vegan can be a tough lifestyle option for foreigners here, simply because there are so few vegetarians in the land where just a 100 years ago, everyone once was. I used to buy a lot of meat substitutes from the Japan Vegetarian Society’s links. The society itself is a pretty lame and dull affair. Perhaps more about the nice idea of vegetarianism rather than anything practical. Here’s the link anyway for what it’s worth.
http://www.jpvs.org/Eng/ep1/index-eng.html
Please don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer from these people. Z-z-z-z-z-z …S-n-n-x-x-x-x-x …
So in Kagawa we have to think not about vegetarian restaurants as such but rather restaurants that have vegetarian menus. There are some places here in Takamatsu that do offer good vegetarian food and this is yet another improvement from a few years ago. I remember one dreadful place that advertized ‘vegetarian menu’, expensive too, when I went out for a meal with some non-vegetarian friends. All they served up for me were boring salads with a couple of fried onion rings artfully arranged. Rabbit food. Things have improved markedly since then.
Be positive Pat! OK, here’s a really, really great vegetarian restaurant in Zentsuji a little ways from Takamatsu. These people can really cook splendidly and the cuisines, for that’s what they are, fine cuisines, are entirely vegetarian. I highly recommend this restaurant, which is rather inexpensive and serves delicious vegetarian fare.
http://www.paysan.jp/kagawa/
Thali Spice (Indian restaurant) has a cheap, good vegetarian selection and is in the Food Court on the 2nd floor of the YouMe Town shopping center near Takamatsu.
Aeon Shopping Center on the outskirts of Takamatsu also has a semi-vegetarian restaurant on the ground (1st) floor.
But for me, the best deal for nosebag feed of various vegetarian foods although not strictly a vegetarian restaurant, is this one; Yasashi Shokutaku on the 3rd floor and located in Marugame Machi shopping arcade, just down from the dome I wrote about a few weeks ago. Here you’ll find great fried tofu, lots of beans, lentils all kinds of cooked and raw vegetables. You can even chose your own vegetables and the chefs will prepare them to your own taste.
Anyway, getting a supply of fresh vegetables is also important if you’re going to cook vegetarian and rather than supermarkets, farmers’ markets (fureai ichiba in Takamatsu) (ふれあい市場高松）are the best bet. There are a few around Takamatsu and if you cut-and-paste the Japanese above and check on Google Maps they’ll appear.
And keep all them cards and letters comin’ in! I can answer now so I will get back to you for sure.
Cathy Hirano and Chris Gaskett both living in Takamatsu have kindly supplied me with some additional information listed below. I hope you’ll take the time to look at Cathy’s informative blog.
http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp/e273179.html
Macrobiotic restaurant; Fukuroku Chaya. It serves brown rice and no meat products at all. Lunch set is 800 yen and macrobiotic curry and rice is 650yen.
Address 2F Hiraga Bldg, Kamei-cho, Takamatsu
Tel: 090-4787-0485
Open: 11:45~14:00
Closed: Sat., Sun, and national holidays
No parking
This site has a map
http://www.e-komachi.com/web/gourmet/detail.asp?tnid=30698
“And this site has a photo of the outside plus kuchi komi in Japanese.”
http://r.tabelog.com/kagawa/A3701/A370101/37002846/dtlrvwlst/908081/
Thanks Cathy!
Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants in Takamatsu
http://www.reviewmylife.co.uk/blog/2010/02/06/vegetarian-friendly-restaurants-in-takamatsu-japan/
Thanks Chris!
“What’s the big assignment boss?” I asked, taking off my cap and bicycle trouser clips.
‘Ahhh don’t sit down, you’ll be leaving soon.’‘Vegetarians in Kagawa’ he sniffed and said, leaving his feet up …
‘Yes, Vegetarians in Kagawa’.
‘Think you can handle it?’‘Not fool around looking for cheap laughs and free meals? Make it interesting?’‘Dig up some info?’
“Why of course I can! This is right up my alley JC!” I used to be a vegetarian for years.”
“Besides, this week the only pressing social engagement I have is the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance” so I’ll have it done pronto.”
And I was a vegetarian too. Honestly, I was. I’ve given it up for a while, as it was too hard for my long-suffering wife to make separate meals for me three times a day. The family has never been into it and I’ve never tried to coerce them. When things settle down I’ll return to a lacto (milk and eggs) vegetarian lifestyle, as I felt better for it and all things considered, it’s just better for the planet.
Some years ago, on retreats in a Buddhist temple kitchen in Okayama Prefecture I learned a little about Buddhist vegetarian cooking because I had to help out as a participant in these retreats a couple of times a year. Once every three days it was my turn to work in the kitchen and help the head cook. I’m no longer interested in doing retreats at all I should add. But the food I really do miss.
Retreats are silent affairs with 3:00 AM starts and last 7 or sometimes 9 days and the meals were a little spartan but great. There was a ‘no talking’ rule at all times and nothing fancy to eat. Traditional ‘Shojin Ryori’ vegetarian was the type of food we ate. This was often rice gruel based and typical temple food. Lots of tofu, sautéed eggplants in zesty garnishes, piles of genmai (brown rice) which is really good for you, topped with ground sesame seed and a pickled plum on top.
So here’s the good news: there’s no need to do a retreat for the experience, as my old friend Nishimura san has a mountain retreat center he pretty much built himself near a hot spring town called Shionue. By invitation, Nishimura san offers an afternoon of tea; quiet meditation and a meal cooked the same way in temples 700 years ago. These events are held periodically throughout the year and should you wish to attend, either contact me through the letters link on this page or to Nishimura san on his web site.
http://www.geocities.jp/ajiminatobansyo/
I should point out that he also has a great and inexpensive restaurant in Aji, a short drive out of Takamatsu and the food is not all vegetarian but pretty delicious. The restaurant is by application for a guest list sent out once a month. Here’s some information in Japanese on the above link for you. (don’t forget to click the top right button on the page for the map)
Being a lacto-vegetarian, vegetarian or vegan can be a tough lifestyle option for foreigners here, simply because there are so few vegetarians in the land where just a 100 years ago, everyone once was. I used to buy a lot of meat substitutes from the Japan Vegetarian Society’s links. The society itself is a pretty lame and dull affair. Perhaps more about the nice idea of vegetarianism rather than anything practical. Here’s the link anyway for what it’s worth.
http://www.jpvs.org/Eng/ep1/index-eng.html
Please don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer from these people. Z-z-z-z-z-z …S-n-n-x-x-x-x-x …
So in Kagawa we have to think not about vegetarian restaurants as such but rather restaurants that have vegetarian menus. There are some places here in Takamatsu that do offer good vegetarian food and this is yet another improvement from a few years ago. I remember one dreadful place that advertized ‘vegetarian menu’, expensive too, when I went out for a meal with some non-vegetarian friends. All they served up for me were boring salads with a couple of fried onion rings artfully arranged. Rabbit food. Things have improved markedly since then.
Be positive Pat! OK, here’s a really, really great vegetarian restaurant in Zentsuji a little ways from Takamatsu. These people can really cook splendidly and the cuisines, for that’s what they are, fine cuisines, are entirely vegetarian. I highly recommend this restaurant, which is rather inexpensive and serves delicious vegetarian fare.
http://www.paysan.jp/kagawa/
Thali Spice (Indian restaurant) has a cheap, good vegetarian selection and is in the Food Court on the 2nd floor of the YouMe Town shopping center near Takamatsu.
Aeon Shopping Center on the outskirts of Takamatsu also has a semi-vegetarian restaurant on the ground (1st) floor.
But for me, the best deal for nosebag feed of various vegetarian foods although not strictly a vegetarian restaurant, is this one; Yasashi Shokutaku on the 3rd floor and located in Marugame Machi shopping arcade, just down from the dome I wrote about a few weeks ago. Here you’ll find great fried tofu, lots of beans, lentils all kinds of cooked and raw vegetables. You can even chose your own vegetables and the chefs will prepare them to your own taste.
Anyway, getting a supply of fresh vegetables is also important if you’re going to cook vegetarian and rather than supermarkets, farmers’ markets (fureai ichiba in Takamatsu) (ふれあい市場高松）are the best bet. There are a few around Takamatsu and if you cut-and-paste the Japanese above and check on Google Maps they’ll appear.
And keep all them cards and letters comin’ in! I can answer now so I will get back to you for sure.
Cathy Hirano and Chris Gaskett both living in Takamatsu have kindly supplied me with some additional information listed below. I hope you’ll take the time to look at Cathy’s informative blog.
http://cathy.ashita-sanuki.jp/e273179.html
Macrobiotic restaurant; Fukuroku Chaya. It serves brown rice and no meat products at all. Lunch set is 800 yen and macrobiotic curry and rice is 650yen.
Address 2F Hiraga Bldg, Kamei-cho, Takamatsu
Tel: 090-4787-0485
Open: 11:45~14:00
Closed: Sat., Sun, and national holidays
No parking
This site has a map
http://www.e-komachi.com/web/gourmet/detail.asp?tnid=30698
“And this site has a photo of the outside plus kuchi komi in Japanese.”
http://r.tabelog.com/kagawa/A3701/A370101/37002846/dtlrvwlst/908081/
Thanks Cathy!
Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants in Takamatsu
http://www.reviewmylife.co.uk/blog/2010/02/06/vegetarian-friendly-restaurants-in-takamatsu-japan/
Thanks Chris!
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
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Posted by pat at 14:24
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Nice article, Pat. It's very interesting to get such an article from someone who has the experience of being a vegetarian in Japan. It's just interesting that there is such a great number of locally and even internationally grown vegetables available in Japan, but there are still very few vegetarians here. The concept seems to be foreign in many respects. Still, things have gotten better. People know what the word vegetarian means nowadays. I remember some friends who were vegetarians 20 years ago who would have to explain the "concept" of what a vegetarian is to someone in a Japanese restaurant, and sometimes they just couldn't understand it. I used to go to a nice vegetarian restaurant in the US, not because I was a vegetarian, just because the food was so delicious. Even that was hard to understand for some of my Japanese friends. Thanks for the nice read.
Posted by R.T. at 2010年10月06日 15:29
I agree ... being a 'veggie' in japan even a few years ago, simply meant lightening up on the beef and steaks.
thanks for the nice comment. if this keeps up, who knows? JC may even offer to pay me one day!
thanks for the nice comment. if this keeps up, who knows? JC may even offer to pay me one day!
Posted by pat at 2010年10月07日 09:17
Hi !Pat. Actually, I 've also tried to cook vegetarian food once when I was around 20 years old .
Because I like cooking and I was inspired by the book,
'' The Self -Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner''
This book is full of lovely illustrations and one of my favorite book!
But In Japan, it cost me too much money to keep vegetarian life style and it was so hard to obtain ingredients of food.... So I gave it up.
Your article was interesting!
Because I like cooking and I was inspired by the book,
'' The Self -Healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner''
This book is full of lovely illustrations and one of my favorite book!
But In Japan, it cost me too much money to keep vegetarian life style and it was so hard to obtain ingredients of food.... So I gave it up.
Your article was interesting!
Posted by AKIKO at 2010年10月24日 17:01
hello akiko,
yes, it's very expensive to be a vegetarian in japan. it really did cost a lot, perhaps a little more than double the cost of non-vegetarian food. I think one day I will go back to it as a life style though but it'll have to wait, as it's just too expensive right now.
thank you for your kind comment.
pat
yes, it's very expensive to be a vegetarian in japan. it really did cost a lot, perhaps a little more than double the cost of non-vegetarian food. I think one day I will go back to it as a life style though but it'll have to wait, as it's just too expensive right now.
thank you for your kind comment.
pat
Posted by pat at 2010年10月24日 17:31
Hi Pat,
One correction for you: Thali Spice is in the Minamishinmachi part of the shotengai. Near the McDonalds. Very good food, and a really cheap set lunch. Highly recommended :)
One correction for you: Thali Spice is in the Minamishinmachi part of the shotengai. Near the McDonalds. Very good food, and a really cheap set lunch. Highly recommended :)
Posted by reviewmylife at 2010年10月25日 16:51
thanks for that! I've written to the editor and asked for confirmation and change.
the best,
pat
the best,
pat
Posted by pat at 2010年10月25日 17:17
If one can accept eating fish stock, going vegetarian is much easier. A lot of the vegetable dishes found in restaurants are flavored with dashi (fish stock). And, of course, there's udon, but you may want to check on the broth to see if there's hidden beef or chicken flavoring. Thanks for the info!
Posted by Steve at 2010年11月25日 09:01
Sibayo (Nishiki-cho 1-13-22) is a fantastic veggie/macrobiotic cafe, love that place! Will be checking out some of your recommendations - thanks!
Posted by Anchan at 2010年11月30日 22:31
