Japanese Decoded: Natural Foods & Dietary Restrictions

Eat Well, Live Well

By The Savvy Team |
April 9, 2020 |
Food & Drink, Lifestyle

In many ways, Japan is ahead of other developed countries in terms of natural, organic and sustainable foods, but that doesn't mean these things are particularly easy for non-Japanese readers when it comes to deciphering these writings and strange labels. If you're desperate to find what you can or can't eat in Japan, read the article below and become a pro at decoding Japanese tags.

Have you ever find yourself in a supermarket, holding an item and having strictly no idea of what was written on the label? Well, we do. When you don’t read Japanese or if you’re still learning, looking for some food when you have a specific diet can become a living hell. Food is essential, good food and especially food that is aligned with your personal diet is even more essential—we would say vital, actually.

Even though Japanese is a beautiful language, it can be tricky to decipher its writings, especially in busy supermarkets after a long day at work. Below is a list of terms commonly used on the labels of natural or specific diet food products. Memorize these—or print out the list and take it with you when you go shopping.

Natural Foods

May it be Japan or elsewhere, organic foods and ready-to-eat meals are trending. We are becoming more and more conscious of what we eat and how we fuel our body, getting ourselves into a more natural lifestyle.

It seems obvious that the food we choose is the best weapon we have when trying to get healthier, but we still have to decode these labels! This first list below is perfect when you are on the look for organic, more ethical or natural items to grab.

Japanese	Rōmaji	English
放し飼い	hanashigai	free-range
放し飼い卵	hanashigai tamago	free-range eggs
手づくり / 手作り	tezukuri	homemade/handmade
無添加	mutenka	additive-free
無農薬	munouyaku	pesticide-free
自然派	shizenha	all-natural
自然食品	shizen shokuhin	natural product
有機栽培	yuuki saibai	organic farming/organically farmed
有機野菜	yuuki yasai	organic vegetables
有機	yuuki	organic usually used for foods
オーガニック	ooganikku	organic can also be used for other products, such as cosmetics

Japanese	Rōmaji	English
100%草飼料で育った肉	hyaku paasento kusashiryou de sodatta niku	100 percent grass-fed meat
地元	jimoto	local
有機肥料	yuuki hiryou	organic fertilizer
農薬	nouyaku	agricultural chemicals (e.g. pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.)
生産者	seisansha	producer, manufacturer
保存料	hazonryou	preservatives
着色料	chakushokuryou	(food) coloring
遺伝子組み換え	idenshikumikae	genetically modified, GMO
放射性物質	houshasei busshitsu	radioactive material
放射性物質検査合格	houshasei busshitsu kensa goukaku	indicates products that have been tested and are free of radiation

Dietary Requirements

Are you following a specific diet? It could be for health reasons, convictions or just in order to try out something new for your body—anyway, there is always that moment where you have to explain what is your diet or look for that label on a package. Take a look at the list below to find your own!

Japanese	Rōmaji	English
グルテンフリー /グルテン不使用	guruten furii/guruten fushiyou	gluten-free
シュガーフリー/砂糖不使用	shugaa furii/satou fushiyou	sugar-free
ナッツフリー	nattsu furii	nut-free
乳製品不使用	nyuuseihin fushiyou	dairy-free
ベジタリアン	bejitarian	vegetarian
ヴィーガン, ビーガン	viigan, biigan	vegan note: both are correct but the first one will dig more results when looking up on the internet

You may have noticed that 不使用 (fushiyou) and フリー (furii) are both used in these kinds of expressions, they basically mean the same thing. フリー roughly translate as “free” and has become a common way to say “without” when it comes to food labeling.

Is there something you need and don’t see on that list? Leave a comment below or contact us so that we can add it right away!