Tofu is well known around the world today. In many countries, it is often introduced as a vegetarian food, a vegan protein, or a substitute for meat. Those uses are real, but they do not fully explain how tofu is understood in Japan. In Japan, tofu is not mainly treated as a meat substitute. It is an ordinary everyday ingredient with its own place in the meal. It can be eaten cold with soy sauce and green onion, warmed in miso soup, simmered in dashi, added to hot pots, fried, dried, grilled, or served as a simple side ...
