I don’t consider myself to be patriotic, being proud of where you were born is a bit strange to me but I do miss a few things about my home country. That’s not to say I don’t like Japan or Japanese things, but, there are a few things that I miss or think are better in Britain. I’m sure there are things you would miss or prefer about your country too if you ever moved away.
Food
I would agree that food in Japan is generally better quality than the U.K. but at a price. I could list so many things that all this would be is a boring shopping list, I won’t. Here are just a few things which I miss or, I think are better than in Japan.
Marmite – to my knowledge, there is nothing in Japan like Marmite. Marmite is a sharp, salty yeast extract spread. It’s a glossy dark brown and sticky to touch. It’s great on toast or cheese, although it’s not to everyone’s taste, a bit like natto for Japanese people.
Cheese – goes well with the lovely Marmite, some Double Gloucester, or maybe a nice Stilton (blue cheese) with crackers and grapes. Cheddar on a french stick and pickle, yes, please!. Again, many different choices to be had.
Bread – yes, there are many bakeries in Japan and, I do enjoy their wares but the bread in Japan is sweeter than the British counterpart. There are more types of bread in the U.K. and, we don’t count the slices in a loaf (for reference, there are 16 slices in the loaf I used to buy).
Meat – one of the best steaks I have ever eaten was in Japan. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Wagyu steak or beef is delicious even still my preference is meat in Britain. There are many more types of meat to try, from all kinds of birds to unusual cuts such as kangaroo or crocodile. Just one more word on meat in the U.K., sausages!
Drink
One of my first thoughts in Japan was, why are there so many vending machines? During the summer and winter months, I understood why. Wonderfully hot soup on the coldest days and life-saving cold water on the hottest days, not forgetting the occasional alcohol vending machines that can help on a hot or cold day. There are so many choices of drink here in Japan my preference lies in Britain.
Tea – a nice mug of tea is one of the most comforting things for me. Although I have tried, I cannot find a decent replacement in Japan. Yes, it’s possible to buy black tea bags but, so far, the taste has been a pale imitation of what I know. British brands such as Yorkshire Tea, Builder’s Tea, or Marks & Spencer’s (supermarket) Extra Strong Tea have a full-bodied, malty taste that can cure almost any of my problems. Oh, for a nice mug of tea.
Beer – when I say beer in Japan, almost all people think of lager and only lager. Just as eating the same food every time, drinking the same lager every time is boring. Our American cousins joke that British beer is warm and flat which, could be true depending on the beer. There is a vast range of real ales with different qualities. One day I could want a ruby beer, the next, a stout. A nice lager on a hot day is refreshing or, maybe, an India Pale Ale (IPA) instead. There is a small selection of real ales available to buy in Japan, none are my favorites.
Home is where the heart is
Those are a few things that I miss or prefer in my home country. If you’re thinking, “Well Duncan, why don’t you go back to your own country if you’re not happy where you are?”, that’s not the point I’m making. When I briefly returned to England, I wanted to eat okonomiyaki and gyoza, which I did at a Japanese restaurant. It was good but not as good as in Japan and, I could see it wasn’t Japanese rice even before tasting it.
What would you miss from your home country if you moved overseas?
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