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Raw Eggs in Japan: Are They Safe to Eat?
A number of Japanese dishes involve eating raw eggs. Is that safe? Experts tell us why you’re unlikely to contract salmonella in Japan.
By Jay Allen
Many of us grew up in countries where we were specifically warned against eating raw or undercooked eggs. So you might be surprised when you arrive in Japan and find that they’re something of a delicacy. But are they safe to eat? We review the evidence and talk with an expert below.
What foods in Japan are served with raw eggs?
While chickens came to Japan via the Korean peninsula around 100 CE, Buddhist custom meant that most people didn’t eat eggs for food until sometime during the Edo era. At that time, however, eggs were used more for their health and medicinal value.
That changed during Japan’s Meiji era. Perhaps the best example of the use of raw egg is tamago-kake gohan ((卵かけご飯) — or, more simply, TKG. This is exactly what it says in Japanese: rice with a (raw) egg on top and seasoned with soy sauce and chili powder.
