<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

There are three responses from the same writer which are  quite
informative.  I decided to edit  these into one email for the List. A bit
of warning: Several websites are mentioned here; one seems to be no longer
running, and the others have Japanese characters in it - I haven't reset my
fonts to pick up the language.

>I have celiac disease and am living in Japan now, having arrived about 
>three weeks ago.   The main reason (for the challenge of the GF diet) is
that >soy sauce is used in almost all cooking.    When I go 
>out, the only thing I can eat with confidence at restaurants is sushi (for

>which I bring my own soy sauce), and most sushi have fish on them, so as a

>vegetarian you probably cannot eat them.  I also eat mixed salads -- 
>normally served as a side dish --  and order plain rice ("gohan").  I 
>found that pickles often have some wheat in them (from soy sauce?), so I 
>am avoiding them unless I can read the packages.
>
>I printed out the following two web sites and carry the sheets with me 
>when I go to restaurants, but in most cases so far the response is that 
>there is nothing on the menu that I can order.  The sauces are made ahead 
>and much of the food is marinated, so that's it.   Anyway, here are the 
>web pages:
>
>This one explains what a gluten-free diet is and what foods contain 
>gluten and what foods do not:
>http://www.geocities.co.jp/Bookend-Soseki/2157/gfcf-gluten.html
>
>This one explains what Celiac Disease is:
>http://www.city.naze.kagoshima.jp/HouseCall/encyc/123/143/170_0_0_0.html
>with more detail on the gluten-free diet at:
>http://www.city.naze.kagoshima.jp/HouseCall/encyc/86/25/9_0_0_0.html
>
>You need to set your browser to display Japanese in order to print those 
>out.  I think having them will be better than a restaurant card, since 
>they give more details and put the request in some context.  Japanese are 
>aware that children often have a problem with gluten, so going to a 
>restaurant with a menu for children might be easier.
>
>If you learn some simple phrases, it might help:
>Mugi = barley
>Komugi = wheat
>(They don't use much rye or oats here, so those words are not necessary, 
>I think,)
>Dame = bad (pronounced+ dahmeh)
>
>Simple:  Mugi to komugi wa dame.   (Barley and wheat are bad.)
>
>Better: " Watakushi ni wa, mugi to komugi wa taberaremasen desu yo. "
>(I cannot eat barley or wheat)
>
>Grocery stores are great - lots of fresh fruit and vegetables - so you 
>will do OK if you do your own shopping.

-------------- from another email from the same writer---------------

You might try to find Thai or Vietnamese restaurants -- there are many. 
>Here's a restaurant guide (also has vegetarian category -- only one 
>restaurant, though):
>http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/restaurants/restaurant-guide-thai.html
>
>There's a health food store near where I live, but there is not too much 
>there for me.  I do buy  some things there, but...  I ordered a lot of 
>things from Tengu Natural Foods.  The box arrived the very next day!  Then

>I paid at the post office.  Here's their web site:
>http://www.alishan-organic-center.com/en/tengu/
>(Or you could go there -- an hour from Tokyo)
>
>In addition to the words I wrote earlier, you need to add some more:
>
>bakuga = malt
>mugi = barley
>komugi = wheat
>raimugi = rye
>karasumugi = oats
>
>All of them have the same character (mugi) which makes it easy to spot on 
>Japanese labels.  Please ask someone to show you that character -- then 
>you can read labels in Japan!  It is actually easier to read Japanese 
>labels than English ones since I think everything that has gluten has that

>character in it.  The only thing I am unsure about is various seasonings 
>-- they may not include details on labels even if gluten is included in 
>the seasonings. (Note:  Hatomugi is OK = Job's tears)
>
>Convenience stores and small grocery stores are everywhere -- you will 
>enjoy all the fresh produce!  Wonderful fruits and vegetables here!
>
>Bring along your own trail mix (nuts especially) -- the packages are 
>quite small here.
>
---from a third email from the same writer--------
The main problem is to avoid soy sauce, which is used in almost all cooking

in restaurants.  Sushi is OK, if you bring your own soy sauce.   I have yet

to find any gf bread anywhere.  Even salads often have some kind of fried 
onions or croutons in them...   However, I can ask for the salad without 
any of that stuff.  Meats, burgers, etc tend to be marinated in soy sauce, 
so you probably can't eat them at most places.

Japanese are aware that children often have wheat allergies or 
sensitivities, so going to a restaurant that serves children is probably a 
good idea.  "Izakaya" (small bars that serve snacks of various kinds) are 
probably OK for you, since you will be traveling with someone who can speak

Japanese and converse with the chef  -- their food tends to be made at the 
shop.  Also, I think that some higher-end restaurants are also OK -- where 
the food is prepared specially for each customer.  The chefs at regular 
restaurants find it hard to vary their regular routines, so you might not 
be able to find much that you can eat at them.

The vegetables, fruit, rice, etc are all delicious. 
There are small groceries and convenience stores everywhere, so you can 
easily make a picnic for your hotel room.  In Kyoto you can try 
"yatsu-hashi," a kind of cookie (shaped like a roof tile) that is GF. 
Since I cook for myself I have found all kinds of wonderful GF foods, such 
as millet noodles (which are absolutely wonderful!!!), potato noodles, etc.

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