Welcome to the Nihongo Lesson feature. We strive to give you useful manga-based Japanese language tips and maybe even a glimpse into the translation process. This week’s lesson will focus on some popular Japanese snack foods that often appear in manga. Learn what they are and then go out and enjoy them!

ONIGIRI (おにぎり)

ONIGIRI is a rice ball! The word literally means something like “a handful” or “squeezed.” A handful of rice is compacted together into a triangular shape and then wrapped in some seaweed. It is also common for there to be different fillings in the middle depending on your preference. ONIGIRI are pretty easy to make—even Chitoge from Nisekoi managed to make some that tasted pretty good. They definitely tasted better than they looked! A simple ONIGIRI will often have an UMEBOSHI in the middle. 

UMEBOSHI (うめぼし)

An UMEBOSHI is a pickled Japanese plum. When I first went to Japan as a kid, some horribly evil person handed me one and said “Eat this yummy plum!” I should have suspected something from the snickering, but I was too trusting back then. If you start chewing on an UMEBOSHI expecting it to be sweet, you are in for a bad experience! I felt like I was going up against the plum monster from One-Punch Man! UMEBOSHI are super salty and their flavor is a perfect compliment to rice. My favorite ONIGIRI are the ones with UMEBOSHI in the middle!

TAKOYAKI (たこやき)

TAKOYAKI is a very popular snack food that is said to have originated in Osaka. It is a piece of octopus cooked into a flour-based batter. Because it’s cooked in a special pan, it comes out as a sphere that’s slightly smaller than a golf ball. TAKOYAKI literally means something like “cooked octopus,” but I like to call them octo-balls! You can almost think of them as a savory donut. They are often covered with a variety of toppings and sauces.

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