Mockingbird,
Japan has a lot of ethnic foods from China, Korea and even India, included.
I would even think Japan's food variety for ethnic food is wider than the states. Maybe because China and Korea are so close, it was easy to bring those foods over.
After going to a chinese restaurant in the states, I felt they had adjusted their menu for the american taste. It wasn't as delicious as the chinese foods in Japan, nor as big of a variety.
In Japan, one spicy dish from Korea is "Kimchi", which is made with Cabbage and spicy red pepper sauce. Great with Chinese Noodles called "Ramen".
I'm curious what the name you gave for your "soup"?
JazzysMom,
Thanks for the offer, but there would be a concern with importing. This happened when I sent some stuff to my sister once. It had a label with the word "Chicken" in it (It was just a chicken flavored snack food) and the customs inspector in the US had tossed it! (Due to the asian flu, originated from the chickens!) My sister even indicated that depending on the degree of severity, the person sending could be succeptible to penalties. I don't know what the importing laws are here, so it wouldn't be a good idea to send something that they may have banned. I figure l can wait it out til the BSE scare is over, or the next time I come to the states to eat my fill. Besides, I went on for a few years before I started finding Pretzels being imported more frequently. I think I love Pretzels more than Pizza!
But Your offer was very kind!
As an addition to "Odd Food Combinations", my dad used to add milk, cinnamon and sugar to rice. I'd do it to and it was pretty good with Minute Rice, but a different flavor over here.