Wonderful book with clear pictures and nice illustrations. Very good explanation of all ingredients at the beginning to help those of us not familiar with Japanese cooking. I look forward to making some of these meals that I have previously only enjoyed in restaurants. They are written well - so much so I feel pretty confident that I can make some delicious new meals. The recipes feel like the Japanese element is foremost, and they are vegan but not to the detriment of the result which is wonderful.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Vegan Japan by Julia Boucachard is a cookbook full of vegan versions of Japanese classic main dishes, side dishes, desserts, and street food. I’ve seen a few vegan Japanese cookbooks before, most focusing on shoujin ryori, Buddhist Japanese cuisine, but I hadn’t seen one that had a chapter dedicated to street food before.

The yaki onigiri was delicious and easy to make. There are two different recipes for okonomiyaki, the Hiroshima and Osaka versions, providing options as well as a glimpse into the variations of Japanese classics. I’m planning on making the kabocha korokke very soon as well as the kobocha soup as I’m a big fan of pumpkins.

The explanations for each ingredient and what dishes they were used in would be good for beginners to Japanese cooking. There’s enough variety in the dishes provided that I think would give someone a strong foundation for making vegan or vegetarian spins on Japanese dishes that they really want to try out.

I would recommend this to fans of Japanese food, whether they are vegan, vegetarian, or not.

A good cookbook is like a good tour guide, providing just the right context so you can learn something new. Vegan Japan meets this standard. I learned about Japanese cuisine and the pitfalls and possibilities of translating it for vegans. Needed info was provided: prep time, cook time, servings, etc. (One exception: I did not understand what the ingredient "vegan cream" meant.) Even with decent explanations, this comes across as a cookbook for experienced home cooks who are looking to cook some basic ingredients before actually cooking any dish, which may make it a tough entry point for folks new to either vegan or Japanese cooking.

Still, as a long-time vegetarian and five-year vegan, I always cheer on cookbooks like this one!

This cookbook seems pretty good! I’m looking forward to trying more recipes from it. Every single recipe has a picture, which is always appreciated.

The beginning lists and describes common/specialty ingredients to have on hand, which was helpful. We had many, but not all, and it wasn’t difficult to track the others down.

We made the Tantanman, and everyone enjoyed it. The recipe was easy to follow, although we did dirty a lot of dishes during the cooking process.

Overall, seems like a lovely addition to our cookbook shelf, and it offers a different flavor profile than the other vegan cookbooks we have.

Beautifully laid out and illustrated, the cookbook ideal for vegans and anyone who loves Japanese food.

Gorgeous photos accompany many of the recipes, which are written in an accessible and engaging fashion, with clear instructions and bits of history about the dishes.

As a vegan, I love perusing fully vegan cookbooks and the recipes here are appealing on their own and appealed to the non-vegans in my family as well.

Vegan Japan is a winner and has a recommendation from me.



Thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for the PDF

I read cookbooks for the stories as well as the recipes. The introduction to this gives background on the author's childhood between France and Japan, then a bit about how she became vegan.

The recipes have a description of the traditional meat version and info on the vegan one. There's info on the season it's usually eaten too.

The first section is basic sauces, which is then referred to a lot, so be warned if that annoys you. It then goes through mains, side dishes, street foods and desserts.

The recipes have American and metric measures but a few of the ingredients don't have non-American substitutions (what is cake flour?). The ingredients mainly seem like they would be available in a decent Asian supermarket but the author offers substitutions for more unusual ingredients.

The recipes are comprehensive for well-known Japanese recipes and introduces some new ones. They seem well written but I haven't tried any yet.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think most vegans are likely to love this cookbook. The recipes seem very authentic other than being veganized, there are photos of the recipes, and they sound delicious. Do note that wheat and soy are featured heavily, so it may not work well for those with allergies. There is no nutritional information. The recipes also did not strike me as very healthy, which surprised me since Japanese food can be so heavy on vegetables and cooked so healthy. There are lots of street foods here and lots of recipes that are mostly starches and sauces, fried and breaded, relying on a lot of mayonnaise and ketchup, etc. With our family’s nutritional needs (gluten free, higher in fiber, vegetables and protein, etc) it was not a good fit for us. As I said though, I think most vegans will love it.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

Vegan food isn't something you immediately associate with Japanese cuisine and culture, so it very much had my attention from the start. I'm not vegan myself, but many of my friends are and I happily enjoy many vegan dishes.

The photos are stunning, so many cookbooks fall down on this point, a huge part of the joy of food is visual, why would you not capitalize on that for a book all about food?! The recipes are clearly laid out with little bits of explanation and history about dishes, which makes me feel a lot more connected to what I'm making (it's not all about blindly following instructions). I like that there's notes to say what season each dish suits and is usually prepared in. Seasonal eating is gaining popularity more and more, not just from an environmental point of view, but to celebrate the best produce that each season naturally has to offer.

This is much more than just 'vegetables and tofu', this book seems full of excellently crafted and balanced dishes in their own right, not something adapted to make vegan for the sake of it. Personally this really sets it apart.

A beautiful cookbook of authentic Japanese flavours adapted for a vegan diet. I truly wondered how that was going to look, as even vegetarian options are quite hard to come by in Japan, but the swaps were very thoughtful and remained very much flavours that I've enjoyed time and times again back in Tokyo.
There are many recipes I want to try in there and I'm excited about it - one of the best Vegan cookbooks that I have ever read - tasty and homely. The recipes are very much adaptations of recipes you would enjoy in a Japanese home.

This is a deep dive into Japanese veganized food. This book is filled with different kind of dishes from around Japan. I would have hoped for every dish would have had a photograph next to the recipe. There are so many great sounding recipes that I do not know which one to choose first. Really liked it that this is not a sushi book, but proper, authentic Japanese recipes that I will try out!

This vegan Japanese cookbook is ideal for anyone looking for ways to cook Japanese food without meat or fish, starting with a range of key sauces and then loads of dishes. I liked that it doesn't just have the obvious ones, like ramen, karaage, etc, but the sorts of food you find across Japan. The recipes look well explained and aren't too complicated, and the illustrations of everything makes it easy to picture what you're looking for with the end product. I'm excited to try out these recipes as I love cooking Japanese food, but it can be time consuming trying to work out substitutions for everything.

This is a great little cookbook, full of charming illustrations and great photos. The author takes readers through a variety of dishes and how to make some of the basics needed for Japanese cuisine. Fantastic cookbook that offers great, authentic alternatives to well-known Japanese dishes.

This is a wonderful resource for anyone who wishes to explore a vegan Japanese diet. It certainly opens a whole new vista in vegan cuisine. Beautifully researched and presented

"Vegan Japan" is a tantalising journey through the vibrant world of plant-based Japanese cuisine, offering a delightful array of familiar and intriguing dishes.

The book's layout is not just aesthetically pleasing but also thoughtfully organised, making it a breeze to navigate through the recipes. Each page is adorned with clear and appetising photographs of the dishes, enhancing the culinary experience. The charming illustrations sprinkled throughout the book add an extra layer of charm to this delightful cookbook.

In addition to the recipes, "Vegan Japan" provides valuable information about the ingredients and supplies necessary to create these delectable dishes. I was particularly impressed by the inclusion of details about the seasons in which these dishes are traditionally enjoyed. This thoughtful touch caters to those who appreciate plant-based eating and seasonal culinary experiences.

Overall, "Vegan Japan" is a valuable resource for home cooks eager to explore the world of plant-based, seasonal cuisine. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, this cookbook offers something for everyone.

I am truly grateful to NetGalley and The Experiment for providing me with an e-book copy of Vegan Japan. I eagerly look forward to the opportunity to recreate these mouthwatering dishes in my kitchen.

Absolutely gorgeous set of recipes. As a vegan whose fave food is Japanese, I'm looking forward to cooking my way through this one. It starts with a whole host of sauces and bases which will be particularly valuable.

I've lived in Japan and even taken cooking classes there so I think I can say with some authority that this is an excellent cookbook--not just for vegans--but for anyone who enjoys or wants to learn more about Japanese cooking. The recipes are excellent and the illustrations are heartwarming and playful. I enjoyed leafing through it and could imagine cooking any number of the recipes, which are a great representation of Japanese food. I also enjoyed the author's comments and writing style. This is a keeper!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this cookbook. So glad to see these kind of authentic Japanese recipes!

Thank you NetGalley and The Experiment for this arc!

5/5 stars

This cookbook is really great. It starts off with some explanations of common ingredients and tips on making some staples, and goes right into recipes from there. I love the chapter illustrations, and the photographs that go with the recipes are beautifully shot. I'm really excited to sell this one I think it will do really well!