The ingredient choices available at

The ingredient choices available at supermarkets and other food stores in all but the most isolated rural districts of Japan are so varied that on any given day a homecooked dinner could contain an incredible variety of dishes of various national origins. Even so, native Japanese food is still the norm, and a “Japanese meal” at home will generally have white rice, miso soup, and tsukemono pickles. The multiple dishes that accompany these three vary widely depending on the region, the season, and family preferences, but candidates include cooked vegetables, tofu, grilled fish, sashimi, and beef, pork, and chicken cooked in a variety of ways. Popular alternatives to native Japanese fare include Chinese-style stir-fried meat and vegetable dishes and Korean-style grilled beef and pork. More adventurous cooks may try their hand at American, French, Italian, and other ethnic dishes. Selections particularly popular with children include spaghetti, hamburgers, and the curry rice mentioned above. While many families continue to eat homecooked meals every night, the greatest change taking place in eating habits in recent decades has been the replacement of home-cooked dishes with food prepared outside the home. Sushi, Chinese and Japanese noodle dishes, and Japanese-style box lunches (bento) have long been available via home delivery (demae) in towns and cities, and now pizza and many other dishes can also be ordered. In addition, supermarkets have many prepared foods such as sushi, tempura, and fried chicken to purchase and take home, and the spread of convenience stores into all but the most remote areas of Japan has made a wide variety of pre-cooked bento-type meals available to almost everyone.