Food map: Eat your way around Japan

From Hokkaido to Okinawa, we chart the best of Japan's unique regional cuisine

By Kelly Wetherille 19 January, 2012

Much has been written about the relationship between the French and their cuisine, but one could also argue that the people of Japan take their love for food a step -- or several galloping strides -- further. Where else is it common to embark on weekend trips, the sole purpose of which is to sample several varieties of a single dish?

Modern Japanese kyodo ryori, or regional cuisine, is a tourist attraction all of its own, with a signature dish for nearly every major city.

Outside influences

And while some of these foods are undeniably Japanese (sushi springs to mind), many are actually adaptations of dishes that originated in other countries, demonstrating the uncanny ability of the Japanese to take something new and make it their own.

Mouseover the hotspots or click the place names on the map above for a quick spin round Japan’s most notable regional dishes -- from Hokkaido in the frozen north to Okinawa in the deep south, there’s good eatin’ across the board.

Just a few of the regional specialties you'll find on the interactive map above

my opinion

i think that all the food of Japan is very rare, but i isn t have test the food of japan and it could be bery bery good the food of japan other thing is that they eat like rats and this is bery rare . 

Jose RodrigoVillalba Lopez 

New species discovered in South American jungle

(CNN) -- A new species of catfish discovered in a river deep in a South American jungle has an ingenious way to avoid being a snack for giant piranhas. Instead of camouflage, its body is covered with bony spines to deter potential predators.
Nicknamed the "armored catfish," it is just one of 46 species researchers believe could be new to the scientific community, according to a new report from Conservation International.
During a three project in 2010, scientists were joined by indigenous people from villages in southwest Surinam to documented nearly 1,300 species along the Kutari and Sipaliwini Rivers that lie in one of the most inaccessible forests in the world.
As well as the armored catfish (that was saved from being lunch for one of the scientists' guides), a large tree-frog, eight freshwater fish and dozens of new insects were identified. Other species were seen that are thought to be unique to the area, including the "Great Horned Beetle,"a blue dung beetle the size of a tangerine, and the "Pac-Man Frog" that has a mouth as wide as its body.
"The area was paradise for the entomologists with spectacular and unique insects everywhere," said Dr. Leeanne Alonso, of Global Wildlife Conservation, who was part of the research team.
"I didn't even have to look for ants because they jumped out at me. Other scientists were equally impressed with the amazing diversity of birds and mammals of the region. You can really get up close to wildlife here -- a camera trap recorded a jaguar about one hundred yards from our camp."
The research was part of Conservation International Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) that aims to record biodiversity and promote conservation across the world.
Dr. Trond Larsen, director of RAP said: "As a scientist, it is thrilling to study these remote forests where countless new discoveries await, especially since we believe that protecting these landscapes while they remain pristine provides perhaps the greatest opportunity for maintaining globally important biodiversity and the ecosystems people depend upon for generations to come."

commentary:

I think that is very intersting and cool that they are discovered new species because thats because we know the world can have things that we dont know like does animals.

Himy name is Carlos chew i born in the Hospita el Pilar, the 4/5/1998 my first school  was Colinas. Later y enter to Solalto, in first grade with all my friends. Then i discover the viutiful sport that is the swimming and the soccer, and 10 years later i continue! :) I travel to many places Costa rica, El salvador, Honduras, Miami, Four louder day, Mexico and all departaments of Guatemala! and all with the swimming.

STEVEN SOMMERKAMP,

I'am a very very funny boy, all i  say he takes jokes of you. i'am a crack with the ball the think, i pass the ball an he has force  to shoot. He play Base-ball too is a good pitcher and a good batter, has force in the right arm and too fish too. Is my friend he born 1 month after than chino chew.I 'am the most sexy boy of 1 course! And i <3 Barca with my all my heart and (Yankees).

The Real Me

My name is Diego Marín and i´m from Guatemala. I´m 13 years old and i´m at year 7 in Solalto school. I´ve got a lot of hobbies and interests. I love soccer and watching sports in the TV. I alsolike to surf in the internet but i´m not very keen on music. I play Play station 3 with my brother a lot of times. I´m interested on Real Madrid, a soccer team from Spain ligue BBVA. I´m quite shy but I love being with my friends of the school. I think i´m a very organized person and very responsible. I tend to always obbey to my superiors and i´m very honest. I don´t know what i´m going to study at the college.

The Real Me (Rodrigo Duarte)

My name is Rodrigo Duarte and i´m from Guatemala. I´m 13 years old and i´m at year 7 of Solalto school. I´ve got a lot of hobbies and interests. I like playing Play station 3 and i love playing tennis. I use a lot the ipad and I like watching Television. I enjoy playing soccer and volleyball also. I also like listening music and chating on the internet. I´m very keen to reading, but i like to read just some books. I´m quite an optimist person and very positive. I dont know yet what i´m going to study at college. I´m hard-working but i lose attention some times.

The Real Me 

 My name is Martin I am 13 years old. I'm from Guatemala city, Guatemala and I am in 1st course B in Solalto school. I've got 3 brothers and 1 sister, my dad's name is Alfredo and my mom's is Alexandra. I like going to partys and dance, playing video games, soccer and other sports. I'm interested in becoming professional at parkour or soccer. My favourite food is chilli dog. I'm quite happy, but sometimes I get angry. I'm electric, and I'm very optimisstic.

 My name is Jose Andres I'm 13 years old, almost 14. I'm from Guatemala city, Guatemala and I am in 1st course B in Solalto school. I've got 3 brothers and 2 sisters, my dad's name is Julio Antonio, and my mom's is Oni. I like going to the beach in "Puerto San Jose". I like playing soccer, basketball and tennis. I also like to dance. I'm not at all shy, I'm quite confident, though I sometimes get mad. I'm very polite, my favourite food is carpaccio and pasta penne. I sometimes get mad.