Guest guest Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 Hi, I live in Tokyo (12 years now), and it's true that it's hard to find products here but not impossible depending where you live. We've got three celiacs in our home so the 4th member just eats the same. The biggest problem with eating outside our home is that they use soy sauce in so many of the items. If they use Tamari sauce, it generally okay but you need to specify. Also, just for their understanding tell them it's a Komugi Allergee (Allergy to wheat). Komugi actually means small grain so it covers the gluten filled grains. They think you just don't like wheat and will (in a kindly yet unkindly way) try to get you to try it without letting you know so you need to tell them it's an allergy. Things like curry, udon, soba, tempura, sukiyaki and the like are all out of the question. Sushi and sashimi will be fine, the vinegar in the rice is made from rice vinegar. If you email me privately, I'll give you my cell phone number and she can call me if she's got a question when she's here---or I can maybe help with the family. By the way, Mc D is dedicated and will serve without the bun (niku dake, pan betsu de kudasai--komugi no allegee) that's basically meat only, allergy to wheat. But, I don't suggest Mos Burger, Family Kitchen, etc--they don't modify anything! Robin -- The Lancien Family - Patrice, Robin, Cameron, & Caitlin Care deeply. Give freely. Think kindly. Act gently, and be at peace with the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 11, 2004 Report Share Posted June 11, 2004 Hi, I live in Tokyo (12 years now), and it's true that it's hard to find products here but not impossible depending where you live. We've got three celiacs in our home so the 4th member just eats the same. The biggest problem with eating outside our home is that they use soy sauce in so many of the items. If they use Tamari sauce, it generally okay but you need to specify. Also, just for their understanding tell them it's a Komugi Allergee (Allergy to wheat). Komugi actually means small grain so it covers the gluten filled grains. They think you just don't like wheat and will (in a kindly yet unkindly way) try to get you to try it without letting you know so you need to tell them it's an allergy. Things like curry, udon, soba, tempura, sukiyaki and the like are all out of the question. Sushi and sashimi will be fine, the vinegar in the rice is made from rice vinegar. If you email me privately, I'll give you my cell phone number and she can call me if she's got a question when she's here---or I can maybe help with the family. By the way, Mc D is dedicated and will serve without the bun (niku dake, pan betsu de kudasai--komugi no allegee) that's basically meat only, allergy to wheat. But, I don't suggest Mos Burger, Family Kitchen, etc--they don't modify anything! Robin -- The Lancien Family - Patrice, Robin, Cameron, & Caitlin Care deeply. Give freely. Think kindly. Act gently, and be at peace with the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Ahh; I wish we had known this when we were there!! Would have helped immensely. But just curious; we had checked the Japanese soy sauces and had labels read and also read something in a Celiac book and/or webpace that said that Japanese Soysause didn't contain wheat... and I know the few that I bought off base; and had my daughters school read it (she went to a Japanese montessori) and there was nothing that would indicate wheat... Jen RE: Japan Trip Hi, I live in Tokyo (12 years now), and it's true that it's hard to find products here but not impossible depending where you live. We've got three celiacs in our home so the 4th member just eats the same. The biggest problem with eating outside our home is that they use soy sauce in so many of the items. If they use Tamari sauce, it generally okay but you need to specify. Also, just for their understanding tell them it's a Komugi Allergee (Allergy to wheat). Komugi actually means small grain so it covers the gluten filled grains. They think you just don't like wheat and will (in a kindly yet unkindly way) try to get you to try it without letting you know so you need to tell them it's an allergy. Things like curry, udon, soba, tempura, sukiyaki and the like are all out of the question. Sushi and sashimi will be fine, the vinegar in the rice is made from rice vinegar. If you email me privately, I'll give you my cell phone number and she can call me if she's got a question when she's here---or I can maybe help with the family. By the way, Mc D is dedicated and will serve without the bun (niku dake, pan betsu de kudasai--komugi no allegee) that's basically meat only, allergy to wheat. But, I don't suggest Mos Burger, Family Kitchen, etc--they don't modify anything! Robin-- The Lancien Family - Patrice, Robin, Cameron, & CaitlinCare deeply. Give freely. Think kindly. Act gently, and be at peace with the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Dear Jen, I wish I could trust the labels in Japan, but unfortunately there is not a law enacted that required makers to list all ingredients...they can have their secret ingreds and not tell! Kikkoman is famous for it...an most of the soy sauces I've found at off the wall shops do list barley. I doesn't say wheat...it says barley. Unfortunately we run across this problem all the time with both of my kids schools. They don't connect the definition of gluten to include other grains than wheat just like they don't think about milk being in milk choclate because they call it " chocco " not milk chocolate. I do know that some of the food prep differs according to lacation too, so possibly the local culture method of prep was different in Okinawa. I found a great little shop that makes it's Okonomiyaki (it's like a veggie pancake) with potato starch instead of flour and as long as i take my own sauce we can eat there and enjoy the atmosphere. It's kind of interesting, I have learned to show interest in their skill as a cook, asking about the recipie and use that way to find out what's really in things...even they are surprised sometimes because they just don't think about it the same way we do. One great advantage you had though was access to US Postage at APO/FPO which ever the case was. I haul things back on the airplane...literally in 65 pound boxes! Quite the sight at the airport but even at overcharge rates it's cheaper than mailing or shipping by sea. Robin > Ahh; I wish we had known this when we were there!! Would have helped immensely. But just curious; we had checked the Japanese soy sauces and had labels read and also read something in a Celiac book and/or webpace that said that Japanese Soysause didn't contain wheat... and I know the few that I bought off base; and had my daughters school read it (she went to a Japanese montessori) and there was nothing that would indicate wheat... > > Jen > RE: Japan Trip > > > Hi, I live in Tokyo (12 years now), and it's true that it's hard to find > products here but not impossible depending where you live. We've got > three celiacs in our home so the 4th member just eats the same. The > biggest problem with eating outside our home is that they use soy sauce > in so many of the items. If they use Tamari sauce, it generally okay > but you need to specify. Also, just for their understanding tell them > it's a Komugi Allergee (Allergy to wheat). Komugi actually means small > grain so it covers the gluten filled grains. They think you just don't > like wheat and will (in a kindly yet unkindly way) try to get you to try > it without letting you know so you need to tell them it's an allergy. > Things like curry, udon, soba, tempura, sukiyaki and the like are all > out of the question. Sushi and sashimi will be fine, the vinegar in the > rice is made from rice vinegar. > > If you email me privately, I'll give you my cell phone number and she > can call me if she's got a question when she's here---or I can maybe > help with the family. By the way, Mc D is dedicated and will serve > without the bun (niku dake, pan betsu de kudasai--komugi no allegee) > that's basically meat only, allergy to wheat. But, I don't suggest Mos > Burger, Family Kitchen, etc--they don't modify anything! > > Robin > > -- > The Lancien Family - Patrice, Robin, Cameron, & Caitlin > Care deeply. Give freely. Think kindly. Act gently, and be at peace with the world. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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