The Flavor of Osaka: Okonomiyaki Adventure | 大阪でお好み焼き #254

What is 一銭洋食 (Issen Yoshoku)?

Issen Yoshoku, meaning “one-sen Western food,” was a simple, affordable dish popular in Japan before World War II. Its name reflects its cost at the time, with “sen” being a former currency unit (1 sen = 1/100 yen). Despite being called “Western food,” the dish was entirely Japanese, made with locally sourced ingredients.

During this era, meat was a luxury, so more affordable items like cabbage, green onions, and squid were commonly used. These ingredients were mixed into a thin flour-based batter and cooked on a hot iron plate, creating a flavorful and textured dish. This approach not only made Issen Yoshoku economical but also laid the foundation for what we now know as okonomiyaki.

単語 (Vocabulary)

歴史に関する言葉 (Words Related to History)

• 180度変わる (ひゃくはちじゅうどかわる) | To change drastically, To change completely
• 第二次世界大戦 (だいにじせかいたいせん) | World War II
• 戦前 (せんぜん) | Pre-war (before WWII)
• 戦後 (せんご) | Post-war (after WWII)

料理に関する言葉 (Words Related to Food)

• 具材 / 材料 (ぐざい / ざいりょう) | Ingredients
• 豚玉 (ぶたたま) | Butatama (Okonomiyaki with pork belly)
• モダン焼き (もだんやき) | Modern-yaki (Okonomiyaki with noodles)
• 焼きそば (やきそば) | Yakisoba (stir-fried noodles)
• 牛すじ (ぎゅうすじ) | Beef tendon
• 茹でたて (ゆでたて) | Freshly boiled
• セルフ (せるふ) | Self-service
• 目の前 (めのまえ) | In front of
• 大判焼き (おおばんやき) | Obanyaki (Japanese sweet stuffed pancake)

食感を表すオノマトペ (Onomatopoeia for Texture)

• モチモチ | Chewy, Springy
• カリカリ | Crispy

生活や場所に関する言葉 (Words Related to Lifestyle and Places)

• 住宅街 (じゅうたくがい) | Residential area
• テイクアウト / お持ち帰り (おもちかえり) | Takeout
• チェーン店 (ちぇーんてん) | Chain store
• 至るところに (いたるところに) | Everywhere, All over the place

会話の話題 (Conversation Topics)

お好み焼きを食べたことがありますか？どんな具材が入っていましたか？
Have you ever tried okonomiyaki? What ingredients were in it?

大阪でお好み焼きを食べるなら、レストラン派ですか？それともテイクアウト派ですか？
If you were in Osaka, would you prefer to eat okonomiyaki at a restaurant or as takeout?

お好み焼きに合うトッピングは何だと思いますか？クリエイティブになりましょう😆
What toppings do you think go best with okonomiyaki? Let’s get creative! 😆

お好み焼きを作ったことがありますか？作ってみたいですか？どうでしたか？
Have you ever made okonomiyaki yourself? Would you like to try making it? How did it turn out?

日本のお好み焼きの歴史について驚いたことや面白いと思ったことは何ですか？
What surprised you or seemed interesting about the history of okonomiyaki in Japan?

bonus | たこ焼きの味付け（あじつけ）

Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)