I am not sure when and from where fried chicken was introduced to Japanese society, but it has been one of the most popular dishes/snacks among Japanese people, including myself.
If you want to experience a very ‘Japanese way’ to enjoy fried chicken, “Torimaru” (a restaurant in Karuizawa) is the place to go. They serve the dish called “bukkake-don” (literally meaning: ‘rice bowl dish with soup’) which is now getting great media attention and introduced in many TV shows.
As you can see in the picture, fried chicken pieces are placed on rice with some ingredients (miso, seaweed, and pickled veggies).
After enjoying crispy fried chicken with rice and other ingredients, you are ready to pour the chicken-flavored soup over them.
Soaked in the soup, fried chicken now becomes soft, and you can enjoy the different taste and flavor.
This is such an interesting and tasty dish that if you ever have a chance to visit Karuizawa, I recommend you try it.
Note; If you do not want to go this far, Tromaru also has ‘less-revolutionary’ chicken dishes, such as fried chicken with garlic flavor and so on.
Junko Tanaka was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She earned her MA degree from the School of Education at Stanford University, where her research was focused on the use of technology in education. She returned to Japan and since then, has been working for Japanese video-game company which mainly produces educational software for Nintendo DS. Aside from her passion for education, she enjoyes toys, movies, fashion and the incredible sake and food in Tokyo.
