Is it possible to survive in Japan with a seafood allergy?

Question

I was walking around campus at my college and I saw a flyer for a "study abroad" program where students can go to Japan and study there. I'd really like to do that, it sounds pretty cool. However, there's only one problem: I'm allergic to seafood.

This is a problem because I hear that the Japanese mostly survive off of seafood and there isn't much food over there that doesn't use seafood. Even the vegetarian food is prepared with fish stock.

But then again, this is just what I've heard so I don't know how true it is. I'm hoping there'd still be a chance that I could go there someday.

Is there still somehow any way that it's possible for me to survive there, even with my seafood allergy? Do they really eat nothing but seafood there?

I am not a vegetarian, btw. I was just giving an example of what I've heard about Japan.

I'm not really satisfied with the answers I have so far. No offense, but I would perfer someone with actual experience to answer my question.

If you've lived in Japan or visited there for some time, please feel free to answer.

Again, no offense to the others but aksing someone who hasn't been there is simply getting an answer from someone who has only read about Japan much like myself.

*asking (typo)

Also, I doubt there will be KFC in the areas they send students (in study abroad programs) to. I've read that most of the time, people end up in small traditional towns away from the city.

(but then again, I don't really know so I could be wrong)

Answer 1

I'm Japanese American. Was born in Japan and lived there for about 12 yrs. (AFTER I became an adult)

So trust me when I say this there is American food.
They have pizza, they have burgers, they have corn flakes, they have pancakes, they have scrambled eggs, they have sausage, they have fried chicken and they have pasta and lots more.
Never seen corn dog over there but I can be wrong.

Of course depending on where you live the availability of the above food will vary but trust me you'll survive. There's always a McDonald's or/and a Starbucks close by.
And the convenience stores in japan (Which can be found even in the most rural areas) will surely have something without seafood in it.

Just try not to eat anything in soup because as Joriental has said, the Japanese tend to make broth using one or the other type of fish . And usually Miso soup will have some sort of seafood in it (clams, seaweed etc) so stay away from those.

Other than that I can't think of anything you should be careful of.
Well, besides the fish you can actually see and smell that is.

So what happens to you when you eat seafood?

Answer 2

When you are a tourist or visitor in Japan, you may have a host that's feeding you, and you might have a piece of mystery food that you're not sure about. However, you're asking about living in Japan. When you settle down and live in a place, you are on your own. You are responsible for feeding yourself. If you're going to the supermarket, you're buying your own food that you have to choose. If you're sitting down at a restaurant, you have to choose what to order. No one else is going to do that for you, and no one is going to impose some kind of food to you. But you're going on a foreign exchange. Perhaps you don't know about independent living. You don't buy your own groceries or cook for yourself, so you don't know what it's like. And besides, you'll probably be living with a host family. Truth is, you'll probably end up eating seafood ingredients without knowing it's seafood, and you won't be gagging just because you don't know. Now, you love onigiri. You probably are already eating seafood all the time. Perhaps someone will point that out to you some day.

Answer 3

Everyone's answer is so silly, I agree...
Trust my answer because I lived in Japan for over 20 years and I'm a cook at a Japanese restaurant.
Of course you can survive, Japan has many kind of international food just like in US. I lived in a small town where there is even no college or university, there were at least 3 Italian restaurant, 2 Mcdonald, 1 French restaurant, 1 KFC and a pizza place, and a steakhouse. (They are more expensive there)
If you are really allergic to seafood, avoid eating soups and noodles (except for Italian style pasta)
Because they use fish bloth in most of it.
You can find cheap meal options at local bakeries and Convenience stores. They sell all kind of yummy bread, sandwiches with cheese, ham, fried chicken bento box, etc...Coffee shops also serve western food such as pasta, omlette, sandwiches, etc.
Don't worry and go have fun there. It's a great country to discover a lot of things.
In case anything happens to you, Japan's medical facility system is highly developped, too.

Answer 4

I would say if not for ramen and rice most people would starve lol but seriously they do have mcdonalds,kfc ect and many other american resturants as well as cafes with cake ect...but when you go there you can always just go to the store and shop for what you want they have just as much stuff in there stores as we do,bread, fruits,vegetables,milk,cheese,chips ect

sorry but your question is like if i come to america can i survive without eating pizza or hamburgers the answer is of course

Answer 5

Is it really an allergy? or just you don't like seafoods?
If it is allergy, most soup of the noodles, Ramen, Udon, etc contains the essence from bonito or sardine.
Even in the Miso soup.

Answer 6

You will be fine, they dont only eat fish in Japan, they eat Monkey brains, dogs, rats and some specialist restaurants even serve up clinical waste in Delicious sauces.

Answer 7

Yeah the Japs only eat seafood - whales and Flipper, the english only drink tea with milk, and the chinese only eat rice :-/