Curry is one of the most popular dishes in Japan today. Most commonly it is served in three main forms: curry rice, thick noodles, and kare-pan. Curry rice is typically what is called curry. Japanese curry utilizes many different vegetables and meats. The base curry vegetables are onions, carrots, and potatoes.
The base meats most often used are beef, pork, and chicken. Curry was first introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, which lasted from 1868 to 1912. The British, who then had India under their administration, first brought the dish over. The dish became popular very quickly as a “western” food, and by the 1960s it became so popular that it was available for purchase in supermarkets and restaurants.
Today, it has been so widely consumed that it is considered a national dish. It’s since spread to South Korea, which happened during the period of time that Korea was under Japanese rule in the early 20th century. Most Japanese restaurants in South Korea serve curry. So prevalent is Japanese curry today that if you have a local Asian supermarket, you can no doubt find some instant curry there.