Dear Japanese Food Lovers,
Hello from Aiko at isfor WA, Oxford!
Have you ever tried “Napolitan” (Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti)?
Despite its name, Napolitan is a uniquely Japanese pasta dish — not Italian! It was created in the 1940s by a Japanese chef named Shigetada Irie, who was working at the New Grand Hotel in Yokohama.
After World War II, he was inspired by the simple spaghetti meals made by the American military, who used ketchup as a substitute for tomato sauce. Chef Irie adapted the idea and created a dish using spaghetti, ketchup, onions, green peppers, and sausages. He named it “Napolitan” after Naples (Napoli) to give it an Italian-sounding name.
Today, Napolitan is a nostalgic and beloved yōshoku (Western-influenced Japanese dish), commonly found in cafes and home kitchens across Japan.
P.S. There are many more Western-inspired Japanese dishes such as:
🍛 1. Curry Rice（カレーライス）
Japanese-style curry served over rice.
Thicker and sweeter than Indian curry, often with carrots, potatoes, and meat (like pork or beef).
🍳 2. Omurice（オムライス）
A fluffy omelette filled with ketchup-flavoured fried rice, often topped with more ketchup or demi-glace sauce.
Kids love it, and it’s a café favourite!
🍽️3. Hambāgu（ハンバーグ）
A Japanese-style hamburger patty served without a bun, often with demi-glace sauce.
Served with rice, not chips!
I’m sharing these recipes in the isfor WA course — let’s cook and enjoy together!
Happy Cooking!
Aiko
isfor WA
