World Vegan Day and how plant based eating has changed here over the years

Today is World Vegan Day, and it's a good opportunity to reflect on how much veganism has changed in Japan over my years here. I think life here has traditionally been a little tricky to navigate for vegans, particularly when ingredients such as dashi can turn up in seemingly innocent dishes. Even something as simple as soup or a dipping sauce can contain animal products.

I have a particular interest in this because my sister and brother-in-law are both vegan. I've seen firsthand how much easier their trips to Japan have become over the years, with more and more restaurants offering plant-based options and a growing number of vegan-friendly cafes, eateries, and products appearing on menus and supermarket shelves. Even places like Starbucks often have plant-based desserts! 

It's not to say that Japan is suddenly a vegan paradise, and checking ingredients is still important, but there's definitely been a shift. More businesses seem to recognize that vegan food isn't just a niche request from a handful of international visitors!