One of the things that surprised me during my life abroad was the cultural difference in chicken meat preferences. In this article, as a Japanese person, I’d like to explain what I found surprising.
Chicken Breast or Chicken Thigh, Which One to Eat?
During my stay abroad, chicken breast meat was predominantly used in salads, sandwiches, and grilled chicken dishes served at restaurants. Even my non-Japanese colleagues expressed a preference for breast over thigh. All of these aspects were fresh and surprising to me.
In Japan, however, chicken thigh is preferred and widely consumed. I believe the majority of Japanese people would agree with this. Whether it’s stir-fry, fried chicken, or soups, chicken thigh is commonly used in various dishes in Japan, and it is more prevalent in supermarkets.
It was surprising to see such a significant cultural difference in such a familiar foodstuff.
Price
It may also be due to differences in demand, but I was surprised by the pricing at supermarkets. Breast was approximately 1.5 times more expensive than thigh abroad. In Japan, it’s the opposite, with thigh meat being sold at a higher price.
Presence of Bones
You’ll notice when you go to supermarkets in Japan that chicken thigh is commonly sold without bones. When I was living abroad, finding boneless thigh meat was an important point during grocery shopping. Once I learned that it tended to be restocked around 8 AM at the nearby supermarket, I had my wife go and buy it during that time. This improved our quality of life there, and I really appreciate her effort!
Taste Preference
Thigh meat offers a juicier and tender texture to enjoy. On the other hand, some may think breast meat becomes dry and difficult to eat once it’s cooked. I think… wouldn’t you agree with it? Well, breast meat has lower fat content, so people who are conscious of their body shape may eat it more actively. However, in many cases, for Japanese people, it’s more like “I actually want to eat chicken thigh, but I’ll restrain myself and eat chicken breast.”
