JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~ “Umeboshi” Explained: The Salty-Sour Plum That Looks Like the Japanese Flag ~
Yay! Lunchtime! Itadakimasu!
What’s this round red thing?
Try it! It’s tasty!
Whoa…!
That’s super sour!
Ah, that’s called “Umeboshi“! It means “pickled plum.”
It’s a traditional Japanese food we’ve eaten for centuries, usually with rice.
“Umeboshi” are made by pickling unripe plums in salt and drying them in the sun. They’re known for their intensely sour and salty flavor, which comes from fermentation.
“Umeboshi” are often placed on top of rice especially in lunch boxes,
but they can also be chopped and added to salad, pasta and so on.
They’re refreshing in summer and rich in vitamin C, though because they’re salty, we eat them in moderation.
I tried one once… I think my face almost turned inside out!
But there are also types of “umeboshi” that aren’t so sour, and now I really like them!
So, you’re telling me people voluntarily eat sour salty fruits?!
Humans are wild!
Here’s something fun. When you put a red “umeboshi” right in the center of a white rice bento box,
it looks just like the Japanese flag. That’s why we call it a Hinomaru Bento.
“Hinomaru” means “circle of the sun “Bento” means “lunch box”.
You’re right!
“Umeboshi” really does look like the sun!
That’s such a poetic way to look at lunch!
I love how Japanese food isn’t just tasty, but also symbolic.
By the way, this is what ume look like before they become “umeboshi“.
By salting and drying them, they’re turned into “umeboshi“.
Ehh?! These cute little fruits turn into that super sour thing?!
I thought they were just tiny peaches!
Nature is full of surprises… but I’m still recovering from that sour shock!
Summary
“Umeboshi” are traditional Japanese pickled plums known for their salty and sour taste. They’re often eaten with rice and are popular in lunchboxes.
