I once asked one of my students, who had lived in England for a couple of years, what he missed about Japan while he was there. His answer was not too unexpected, replying “food” but in particular one type of food: melon bread.

Now I have been vaguely aware of melon bread since I’ve been here, mainly because the shape it is usually baked into reminds me of brains. Any food which reminds me of brains should best be avoided, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom taught me that lesson. However my students enthusiasm for it peaked my taste buds and I decided to put my prejudices aside and give it a try.

I wish I had tried it sooner, it’s fruity yet bready, sugary yet…… well it’s very sugary. The important thing though is that it’s tasty and I’ve been missing out on it all the time I have been here. This taught me a valuable lesson: be more adventurous with what I eat.

While I do like Japanese food, most of the local dishes I eat regularly are things that I first sampled at home such as sushi, ramen, okonomiyaki and the like. I have so far shied away from the more peculiar dishes. Despite my annoyance at the lack of open-mindedness to Calpis, I have yet dare to sample Pocari Sweat; Usually when I see a picture menu, I dodge the more unusual food for a familiar katsu curry.

Well no longer….

From now on “Remember the melon bread” is going to be my mantra. I will no longer avoid the strange freakish looking option and give it a try, cos you never know, it might be really quite yummy.