It's not as world-famous as ramen or sushi. But the humble onigiri is soul food in Japan TOKYO (AP) — The word “onigiri” became part of the Oxford English Dictionary this year, proof that the humble sticky-rice ball and mainstay of Japanese food has entered the global lexicon. Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press Jun 22, 2024 8:24 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message A variety of onigiri, rice balls, are seen on a plate at a Taro Tokyo Onigiri shop in Tokyo, on June 5, 2024.
The word "onigiri" just became part of the Oxford English Dictionary this year. The humble sticky-rice ball, a mainstay of Japanese food, has entered the global lexicon. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) TOKYO (AP) — The word “onigiri” became part of the Oxford English Dictionary this year, proof that the humble sticky-rice ball and mainstay of Japanese food has entered the global lexicon.
The rice balls are stuffed with a variety of fillings and typically wrapped in seaweed. It's an everyday dish that epitomizes “washoku” — the traditional Japanese cuisine that was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage a decade ago. Onigiri is “fast food, slow food and soul food,” says Yusuke Nakamura, who heads the Onigiri Society, a trade group in Tokyo.
Fast because you can find it even at convenience stores. Slow because it uses ingredients from the sea and mountains, he said. And soul food because it's often made and consumed among fami.
