Ministry Cracks Down on Overseas “Authentic Japanese” Restaurants

Japan can imitate with the best of them, maybe better than any other. But the Japanese don’t like when it happens to them.

Tokyo is launching a campaign on overseas restaurants that call themselves ‘authentic Japanese’ but don’t come close.

Food experts have been appointed to discuss a certification system that will check if the fish in sashimi is cut correctly and placed at the right angle on sushi rools, to be sure the teriyaki is not too much teri and not too little yaki.

The aim is to not just weed out the fakes – those using non-japanese methods and ingredients that are not really Japanese.  The ministry wants to promote Japanese agricultural exports help food companies in Japan sell their products.

I figured there had to be business motive there somewhere.

Well, there are quite a few restaurants they can start with right in my area. They are no where’s near to the real thing.

Hurry up! I want some good gyudon.