Japanese cuisine Osechi, new year special dishes Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan , which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan ( Japanese : washoku) is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Some of the most popular Japanese dishes are listed below. They are categorized below into rice dishes, seafood dishes, noodle dishes, hot pot dishes, meat dishes, soybean dishes, yoshoku dishes and other dishes. Some dishes may fit into multiple categories, but are listed only once. In many countries, Japanese food typically meant sushi, sukiyaki and tempura, but now Japanese gourmet foods are making a name for themselves all around the world! These 40 popular Japanese dishes showcase the depth and variety of Japan ’s food culture, where each dish tells a story through its preparation, presentation, and taste.