Surrounded by oceans, Japan has long depended on the sea for much of its food. Fish is therefore a main part of the food of Japan, and it is eaten in a variety of ways - raw, steamed, fried, boiled and grilled. Raw fish is presented in two ways, sashimi and sushi. In Japan, sashimi is a highly refined delicacy. For sushi, different ingredients are used.
Vinegared rice is compressed into various shapes upon which raw fish and other seafood is placed.
Yakitori, chicken morsels grilled over hot charcoal and basted with a sweet soy sauce. Yakitori is generally eaten as an appetiser or for a light meal. Other meats and vegetables are at times substituted for chicken in this style of cooking. Tempura, thinly battered and deep fried seafood and vegetables. Tempura was adapted from a battered deep fried shrimp recipe brought to Japan by missionaries in the 16 th century.