Ready-made curry products in supermarkets in Japan come in retort pouches, which are plastic pouches meant to boil on the stove or heat in the microwave, open, and serve as-is.
To make a curry yourself, you can choose between flakes, granules, pastes, powders, and roux (cubes or blocks), all of which make a curry base that you are meant to add other ingredients to.
These types of products very often have palm oil included. The sugar may be bone-char processed.
For those who do not live in Japan, products sold on Rakuten Ichiba can be shipped to other countries via Rakuten Global Express (English), Rakuten’s official overseas delivery service (click here for Rakuten Global Express in Japanese). They will combine your Rakuten Ichiba (Japanese) order with orders from other shopping websites, including those that do not ship overseas, and send everything to you. They do not send refrigerated or frozen items- if you order them, they will be sent to you unrefrigerated. Sign-up is free. Learn how to use the service here (English). Those in Japan can purchase any product that is carried on Rakuten Ichiba directly, of course without using Rakuten Global Express, which is only for overseas shoppers.
One important thing to note is that vegetable curry is not synonymous in Japan with vegan (or even with vegetarian) curry. Vegetable curry just means that vegetables were used in the product- it may contain various animal ingredients like extracts. This type of product is not aimed at vegans.
An example of this kind of product is shown below. It’s the Bon Curry Gran Vegetable Curry. It contains chicken extract/チキンエキス chikin ekisu (also noted in the allergy section as chicken/鶏肉/toriniku), pork fat (lard)/豚脂/tonshi, and dairy- food made mainly from milk/乳等を主要原料とする食品/chichi-tō o shuyō genryō to suru shokuhin and butter/バター/batā (also noted in the allergy section as dairy/乳成分/chichiseibun). The product doesn’t have a warning in the allergy section for the pork fat even though it’s specifically noted in the ingredient list- it may be possible it’s so processed it would no longer have a proven risk of allergic reaction and therefore not be required to be marked down in the allergy section.
Now let’s look at some products that are, or seem to be, made without animal ingredients.
FLAKES
You may be able to find Mother Vege Curry Flakes in upscale stores like Biople by Cosme Kitchen.
Online purchase links: Mother website, Rakuten Ichiba
•Mother Vege Curry Flake (Hot & Spicy)カレールゥ（中口)：Vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, onion, garlic, carrots, ginger), palm oil, rice flour, potato starch, curry powder (coriander, turmeric, cumin, other spices), salt, raw sugar, yeast extract, miso, rice koji, fresh tumeric, red pepper, red rice, deep sea water powder, kelp, shiitake mushrooms.
Product contains soy.
• Mother Vege Curry Flake (Sweet)/カレールゥ（甘口): Palm oil, vegetables (potatoes, onions, tomato, carrot, garlic, ginger), rice flour, potato starch, raw sugar, salt, curry powder (coriander, turmeric, cumin, other spices), brown sugar, miso, yeast extract, fresh turmeric, rice koji, red rice, deep sea water powder, kelp, shiitake mushrooms.
Product includes soy.
GRANULES
S&B customer service recommends their Eighteen-Vegetable Curry and S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients for vegans, even though some of their other products don’t have obvious animal ingredients in the ingredient lists. It isn’t 100% clear which of their other products are suitable for vegans and they would not provide additional information about this upon request.
This curry with the flavor of five vegetables is aimed at children from 1 year old who have allergies. It has been reported to be very mild. Adults may wish to add some spicy curry powder to give it more of a kick. The source of the emulsifier is unknown.
• S&B Little Prince Curry Granules, 28 allergenic ingredient-free/エスビー食品 カレーの王子さま 顆粒（アレルギー特定原材料等28品目不使用). Ingredients (granules): Potato starch, dextrin (tapioca starch), fructose, curry powder, pumpkin, vegetable oil processed product (dextrin (tapioca starch), palm oil), beet sugar, salt, potato flakes, shortening (palm oil), sweet potatoes, powdered starch syrup, vegetable flavored palm oil, onion, vegetable extract powder (onion extract powder, Chinese cabbage extract powder, yeast extract powder), yeast extract powder/seasoning (amino acid etc.), emulsifier.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, SB Otodoke (S&B’s online shop)
Photo from website.
PASTES
Lumlum curry pastes may be found in some upscale shops such as Biople by Cosme Kitchen or Bio C’ Bon.
• Lumlum Organic Green Curry Paste/Lumlum オーガニックグリーンカレーペースト. Ingredients: Organic coconut milk, organic lemongrass, organic chili pepper, organic galangal, salt, organic sugar, organic garlic, organic red onion, organic coriander seed, organic cumin. Attached packet: Organic sweet basil, antioxidant (citric acid).
Marked gluten-free and vegan on the package.
Certified vegan by VegeProject Japan. Medium spicy.
Online purchase links: Bio c’ Bon, Biocle, Rakuten Ichiba
• Lumlum Organic Massaman Curry Paste, Spicy/Lumlum オーガニックマッサマンカレーペースト. Ingredients: Organic coconut milk, organic sugar, organic red onion, organic lemongrass, organic ginger, organic garlic, organic galangal, salt, organic chili pepper, organic coriander seed, organic cumin. Attached packet: Sweet basil, antioxidant (citric acid).
Marked gluten-free and vegan on the package.
Certified vegan by Vege Project Japan. Spicy.
Online purchase links: Bio c’ Bon, Biocle, Rakuten Ichiba
• Lumlum Organic Red Curry Paste/Lumlum オーガニックレッドカレーペースト. Ingredients: Organic coconut milk, organic chili pepper, organic lemongrass, salt, organic sugar, organic galangal, organic garlic, organic red onion, organic coriander seed, organic caraway seed, antioxidant (citric acid),organic sweet basil (included).
Certified vegan by Vege Project Japan.
Online purchase links: Biocle, Rakuten Ichiba
Eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, buckwheat, shrimp, and crab are not used to make this Aeon house brand Topvalu curry, which is aimed at allergy sufferers. The TopValu website states (from autotranslate): “Product specifications may change without notice, and the contents described may differ depending on the region, so be sure to check the product label before making a purchase.”
• Topvalu Vegetable and Rice Puree Curry Roux Paste/トップバリュ 野菜と米ピューレでつくった ペーストタイプカレールウ. Ingredients: Vegetables (onion, potato, carrot), curry roux (corn starch, sugar, curry powder, salt, palm oil, potato starch, tomato powder, yeast extract, onion powder), rice puree, olive oil, bouillon (salt, sugar, yeast extract, dextrin, onion, spices).
The corn starch comes from non-genetically modified corn and the potatoes and potato starch come from non-genetically modified potatoes.
Children and adults can enjoy this curry roux. Made at a factory in Akita Prefecture.
POWDERS
There are many varieties of curry powders available in Japan that are suitable for vegans. If you live near a health food store, you’ll likely be able to find more brands there as well.
Kaze to Hikari (Wind and Light) Vegan Curry may be available in upscale or specialty stores such as the Vegan Store in Asakusa, Tokyo, Bio C’ Bon supermarkets and Kodawariya. Five of their curry products have been certified vegan by VegeProject Japan, including powder and retort types. Check VegeProject Japan’s blog (English) for more details.
Their 28 Curry does not use the 28 allergenic ingredients. It uses rice flour.
• Kaze to Hikari (Wind and Light) 28 Curry/風と光 28品目不使用カレールゥ. Ingredients: Palm oil, vegetables (potatoes, onions, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, ginger, shiitake), rice flour (domestic), potato starch, sugar, salt, curry powder, yeast extract, fresh turmeric, kelp.
The factory also produces products containing non-vegan curry, wheat, soybeans, pork, apples, and bananas.
Online purchase links: Kaze to Hikari’s website, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
• Kaze to Hikari (Wind and Light) Organic Vegan Curry Roux, Medium/風と光 有機ヴィーガンカレールゥ 中辛. Ingredients: Organic wheat flour, organic palm oil, organic concentrated grape juice, salt, organic tomato paste, organic onion powder, organic curry powder, organic ketchup, organic ginger powder, organic garlic powder.
Uses organic concentrated grape juice for sweetness instead of sugar and organic sugar-free tomato ketchup for a full-bodied flavor. Uses no animal ingredients at all to make a product suitable for vegans.
Online purchase links: Bio c’ Bon, Kaze to Hikari’s website, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
A company called M to M from the Shonan area of Kanagawa prefecture makes a variety of curry powders. Some don’t have animal products. The products might be hard to find outside of shops in the area, but can be ordered online. The packages of the products shared here say no animal ingredients are used in Japanese, 動物由来原料不使用/doubutsu yurai genryou fushiyou and are certified vegan by VegeProject Japan.
• M to M Bimi (Be Beautiful) Curry Roux/エム・トゥ・エム Be美カレールー. Ingredients: Wheat flour (domestically produced), rice oil, molasses sugar, onion powder, sun-dried salt, apricot paste, curry powder, tomato paste, yeast extract, Worcestershire sauce, fried onion, ginger paste, red wine, cornstarch, garlic powder, spices/caramel pigment.
Product includes wheat, soybeans, and apples.
Online purchase link: M to M’s online shop
Photo from website.
The M to M Kibi (Millet) Curry Roux is made with millet flour (white sorghum) and is gluten-free.
• M to M Kibi (Millet) Curry Roux, Medium /エム・トゥ・エム 輝美カレールー 中辛. Ingredients: Millet flour (domestically produced), vegetable oil, sugar, salt, onion powder, apricot paste, tomato paste, curry powder, yeast extract, fried onion, red wine, ginger, garlic, apple cider vinegar, red pepper/caramel color.
Product includes apple.
Online purchase links: M to M’s online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
The M to M Kibi (Millet) Curry Roux, Sweet says gluten-free in English and Japanese on the front of the package.
• M to M Kibi (Millet) Curry Roux, Sweet/エム・トゥ・エム 輝美カレールー 甘口. Ingredients: Millet flour (domestically produced), vegetable oils, molasses sugar, sun-dried salt, onion powder, tomato paste, prune puree, yeast extract, curry powder, stir-fried onions, red wine, ginger, garlic.
Online purchase links: Green’s Vegetarian, M to M’s online shop
Photo from website.
M to M Shonan Tomato Curry is made with Tanzawa mountain water and tomatoes that are locally grown in the Shonan region of Kanagawa.
• M to M Shonan Tomato Curry/エム・トゥ・エム 湘南トマトカレー. Ingredients: Wheat flour (domestically produced), vegetable oil, tomato ketchup, sugar, salt, onion powder, curry powder, yeast extract, Worcestershire sauce, fried onions, red wine, garlic, ginger, apple cider vinegar/caramel color.
Product includes wheat, soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: M to M’s online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
The creation of the M to M Yakuzen (Chinese Medicinal) Curry Roux, Medium was supervised by the Kamakura Yakuzen Academy.
• M to M Yakuzen (Chinese Medicinal) Curry Roux, Medium/エム・トゥ・エム 薬膳カレールー. Ingredients: Millet flour (domestically produced), rice oil, molasses sugar, sun-dried salt, onion powder, yeast extract, curry powder, tomato paste, ginger powder, masala, coriander, garlic powder, fried onion, black vinegar, oregano, black pepper, mixed plant extract (golden needles (Hererocallis), silk tree flowers (Albizia), dextrin), wood ear fungus powder.
Online purchase links: Green’s Vegetarian, M to M’s online shop
Photo from website.
Ohsawa curry roux are widely carried at health food shops.
• Medium Spicy Ohsawa Curry Roux/オーサワのカレールウ（中辛). Ingredients: Organic palm oil (from Colombia), rice flour (from Niigata), maple sugar (from Canada), curry powder, salt (sun-dried salt), yeast extract, potato starch (made in Hokkaido), apple juice (domestic), powdered tomato, organic black pepper (from Sri Lanka), organic cocoa.
Online purchase link: Amazon Japan
Photo from website.
• Mild Ohsawa Curry Roux/オーサワのカレールウ（甘口). Ingredients: Wheat flour (domestic), organic palm oil, maple sugar, peanut paste, salt (baked salt), curry powder, yeast extract, onion powder, garlic powder, malt extract.
Online purchase link: Amazon Japan, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
S&B curry powders are widely available in supermarkets.
S&B customer service recommends their Eighteen-Vegetable Curry and S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients for vegans, even though some of their other products don’t have obvious animal ingredients in the ingredient lists. It isn’t 100% clear which of their other products are suitable for vegans and they would not provide additional information about this upon request.
• S&B Spicy Curry Powder/エスビーカレー.
A blend of more than 30 kinds of select spices and herbs.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, SB Otodoke (S&B’s online shop), Yodobashi
Photo from website.
Conversely, per the Seijo Ishii supermarket chain website, animal ingredients are not used/doubutsu yurai genryou ha tsukawazu/動物由来原料は使わず in their Curry Roux for Home/成城石井 おうちでホッとカレールー products. It also states they are suitable for vegetarians, although the word vegan is not specifically used.
• Seijo Ishii Curry Roux for Home, Sweet/成城石井 おうちでホッとカレールー 【甘口】. Ingredients: Wheat flour, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, onion powder, tomato paste, apricot paste, yeast extract, curry powder, mango chutney, vegetable and fruit sauce (semi-sweet), sautéed onion, ginger, garlic, red wine, cocoa powder.
Product contains soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Seijo Ishii supermarket’s online shop
Photo from website.
• Seijo Ishii Curry Roux for Home, Medium/成城石井 おうちでホッとカレールー 【中辛】. Ingredients: Wheat flour, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, onion powder, apricot paste, tomato paste, curry powder, yeast extract, vegetable and fruit sauce (semi-sweet), sautéed onion, ginger, garlic, red wine, chili pepper, caramel pigment.
Product contains soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Seijo Ishii supermarket’s online shop
• Seijo Ishii Curry Roux for Home, Spicy/成城石井 おうちでホッとカレールー 【辛口】. Ingredients: Wheat flour, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, onion powder, apricot paste, tomato paste, curry powder, yeast extract, vegetable and fruit sauce (semi-sweet), sautéed onion, ginger, garlic, red wine, chili pepper, caramel pigment.
Product contains soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Seijo Ishii supermarket’s online shop
Photo from website.
RETORT
Retort pack curries are premade and meant to heat and serve.
The following product is from a house brand from a supermarket called Seiyu.
• Approved by Everyone Chickpea and Vegetable Chana Masala Curry/みなさまのお墨付き ひよこ豆と野菜のチャナマサラカレー. Ingredients: Sauteed onion, vegetables (tomato, ginger, garlic), chickpeas, tomato paste, spice, corn oil, sugar, salt, onion powder, yeast extract powder/thickener (processed starch), seasoning (amino acids, etc.), coloring (caramel, capsicum pigment), calcium chloride. (Product contains soybeans.)
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Seiyu Netto Sūpā
This Botanic Keema curry was found in a branch of Seijo Ishii supermarket in December 2020. The front of the package shows in English that it doesn’t contain meat, fish, egg, or milk. It says “100% 植物性/100% shokubutsusei” in Japanese, meaning “100% plant-based,” on the front of the package. In addition to sugar, it uses a sweetener called thaumatin, a protein derived from the fruit of the African katemfe plant.
• Botanic Keema Curry/ボタニック Keema Curry. Ingredients: Vegetables (onion (produced in China), potato, garlic, ginger) , granulated soy protein, soybean oil, curry powder, sugar, wheat flour, tomato paste, salt, spices, yeast extract/seasoning (amino acids, etc.), thickener (processed starch), caramel color, antioxidant (vitamin E), sweetener (thaumatin).
Online purchase link: Amazon Japan
Made by the same company in charge of the Chaya Macrobiotics restaurants. Although the restaurants serve fish, according to their website’s Q&A, all of their manufactured products are 100% plant-derived and don’t use white sugar. The product pages for these curries are specifically marked vegan-friendly in Japanese, ビーガン対応/vīgan taiou.
• Chaya Macrobiotics Bean Curry/チャヤマクロビの豆カレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, lotus root), kelp seaweed stock, roast onion, tomato paste, red kidney beans, coconut milk, chickpeas, soybeans, beet sugar, carrot paste, pumpkin paste, olive oil, miso, curry powder, garlic paste, ginger paste, vegetable broth, Napa cabbage extract, fermented seasoning, wheat flour, vegetable extract, yeast extract, potato starch, salt, spice, soy sauce, rice vinegar.
Items containing egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, squid, orange, beef, walnut, mackerel, soybean, chicken, pork, banana, peach, yamaimo, apple, gelatin, sesame, and cashew nut are manufactured using common equipment.
Three types of beans (red kidney beans, chickpeas, and soybeans) are combined with vegetables and several seasonings. The website recommends adding vegetables at home for a healthier and more satisfying curry. Does not use meat/egg/dairy/white sugar/ chemical seasoning. Retort-type curry.
Online purchase links: Chaya Macrobiotics online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
• Chaya Macrobiotics Soy Keema Curry/チャヤマクロビのソイキーマカレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (carrot, lotus root, zucchini, red bell pepper), roast onion, kombu seaweed stock, granular soy protein, coconut milk, tomato paste, miso, vegetable oil (olive oil, rapeseed oil), garlic paste, beet sugar, rice syrup, spice, ginger paste, vegetable broth, potato starch, fermented seasoning, soy sauce, flour, curry powder, salt.
Items containing egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, squid, orange, beef, walnut, mackerel, soybean, chicken, pork, banana, peach, yamaimo, apple, gelatin, sesame, and cashew nut are manufactured using common equipment.
Uses 8 kinds of spices, soy meat with a similar texture to meat, and miso instead of butter or margarine for richness.
Online purchase links: Chaya Macrobiotics online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
• Chaya Macrobiotics Vegan Green Curry/チャヤマクロビのヴィーガングリーンカレー. Ingredients: Kelp seaweed stock, coconut milk, soy milk, vegetables (bamboo shoots, red bell pepper, onion), vegetable broth, beet sugar, spices, potato starch, ginger paste, garlic paste, yeast extract / chlorella (Product includes soybeans.).
Items containing egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, squid, orange, beef, walnut, mackerel, soybean, chicken, pork, banana, peach, yamaimo, apple, gelatin, sesame, and cashew nut are manufactured using common equipment.
Eleven varieties of herbs & spices, coconut milk and soy milk make a rich, spicy, tasty authentic green curry with an addictive kick of red pepper. Non-oil. Does not use wheat flour; suitable for gluten-free diets.
Online purchase links: Chaya Macrobiotics online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
• Chaya Macrobiotics Vegetable Curry/チャヤマクロビの野菜カレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (pumpkin, carrot, lotus root, red bell pepper), kelp seaweed stock, roast onion, tomato paste, coconut milk, beet sugar, carrot paste, pumpkin paste, olive oil, miso, curry powder, garlic paste, ginger paste, vegetable broth, Napa cabbage extract, fermented seasoning, wheat flour, vegetable extract, yeast extract, potato starch, salt, spice, soy sauce, rice vinegar.
Items containing egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, squid, orange, beef, walnut, mackerel, soybean, chicken, pork, banana, peach, yamaimo, apple, gelatin, sesame, and cashew nut are manufactured using common equipment.
Meat, eggs, dairy products, white sugar, chemical seasonings, preservatives, genetically modified ingredients are not used at all. Retort-type curry.
Online purchase links: Chaya Macrobiotics online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
• Chaya Macrobiotics Vegetable Curry Mild/チャヤマクロビの野菜カレー マイルド. Ingredients: Vegetables (pumpkin, carrot, lotus root, red bell pepper), roasted onion, kelp seaweed stock, pumpkin paste, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, ginger paste, garlic paste, flour, miso, spice, curry powder.
Items containing egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, squid, orange, beef, walnut, mackerel, soybean, chicken, pork, banana, peach, yamaimo, apple, gelatin, sesame, and cashew nut are manufactured using common equipment.
A mild curry with 8 delicious vegetables. Meat, eggs, dairy products, white sugar, chemical seasonings, preservatives, genetically modified ingredients are not used at all. It is a retort type so you can easily heat it.
Online purchase links: Chaya Macrobiotics online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
Coco Ichibanya curry restaurants have a boxed animal-ingredient free curry to buy and bring home. It should be near the register. Check our Fast Food, Coco Ichibanya section to find out more about their eat-in animal-ingredient-free menu.
The boxed retort pouch vegetarian curry/yasai karē/野菜カレー is marked “does not contain animal ingredients/doubutsu yurai no genzairyou wo shiyou shite inai karē desu/動物由来の原材料を使用していないカレーです.” The box also says “Recommended for vegetarians” in English.
Coco Ichibanya Vegetable Curry/CoCo壱番屋野菜カレー レトルト. Ingredients: Vegetables (potato, mushroom, young corn, carrot), curry roux, onion saute, sugar, salt, sesame paste, yeast extract, curry paste, roast onion/seasoning (amino acids etc.), caramel color, emulsifier, acidulant, flavoring. (Product contains wheat, soy and sesame.)
This product is meant to be heated up and then eaten. It says on the package not to open the package and microwave this flavor of curry in a bowl as may affect the flavor of the vegetables. One is meant to open the box, remove the pouch inside, boil the pouch unopened in hot water for 5-7 minutes, remove from the water, open and serve.
Online purchase links: Amazon Japan, Coco Ichibanya online shop
It was previously available in a slightly different package (dark green), but with the same ingredient list, and was also marked “does not contain animal ingredients/doubutsusei no genzairyou wo shiyou shite inai/動物性の原材料を使用していない” in Japanese. That version can still be purchased online.
Online purchase link: Yahoo Japan Shopping
Kagome offers two vegan curries, certified by VegeProject Japan. Kagome does animal test.
• Kagome Mix Beans Vegetable Curry/カゴメ3種類のベジタブルカレー.
Product contains soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Yodobashi
Photo from website.
• Kagome Soy Meat Keema Curry/カゴメ大豆ミートのキーマカレー.
Product contains soybeans and apples.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Yodobashi
Photo from website.
Kaze to Hikari curries may be available in upscale or specialty stores.
The Vegan Amami Vegetable Curry, Medium uses curry roux from Amami Oshima, made with fresh turmeric, and raw sugar from Kikai Island (Kikaijima). It also contains soymeat.
• Kaze to Hikari Vegan Amami Vegetable Curry, Medium/風と光 奄美ベジタブルレトルトカレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (onions, carrots, potatoes) (domestic), curry roux, granular soy protein, edible rapeseed oil, tomato puree, kelp, mango chutney, soy sauce, tomato ketchup, grated garlic, curry powder, sugar, spices.
Product includes wheat and soybeans.
The factory also produces products containing eggs, milk components, shrimp, crab, and peanuts.
Online purchase links: Kaze to Hikari’s website, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
• Kaze to Hikari (Wind and Light) Organic Vegan Curry Retort, Beans/風と光 オーガニック ヴィーガンレトルトカレー 豆 . Ingredients: Organic beans (organic chickpeas (USA), organic lentils (USA), organic Kintoki beans (domestic)), organic vegan curry roux (domestic), organic onions (domestic), organic tomato paste (Italy), organic coconut sugar (Indonesia), organic garlic (domestic), organic ginger (domestic).
The factory also produces products containing eggs, milk, wheat, shrimp, crab, abalone, squid, orange, beef, mackerel, soybeans, chicken, pork, matsutake, yamaimo, apples, gelatin, and sesame.
Online purchase links: Kaze to Hikari’s website, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
• Kaze to Hikari (Wind and Light) Organic Vegan Curry Vegetable Retort, Medium/風と光 オーガニック ヴィーガンレトルトカレー 野菜. Ingredients: Organic vegetables (organic onions, organic potatoes, organic carrots) (domestic), organic vegan curry roux (domestic), organic pumpkin paste (domestic), organic coconut sugar (Indonesia), organic garlic (domestic), organic ginger (domestic), organic tomato paste (Italy).
Product contains wheat.
The factory also produces products containing eggs, milk, wheat, shrimp, crab, abalone, squid, orange, beef, mackerel, soybeans, chicken, pork, matsutake, yamaimo, apples, gelatin, and sesame.
Online purchase links: Kaze to Hikari’s website, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
Kurakon sells a line of products called “Good for Vegans.” The entire Good for Vegans line is available for purchase in their online shop.
This Kurakon curry in the “Good for Vegans” line of products was spotted at a branch of Aeon. The product page states that this item is gluten-free. The ingredient list and allergen information are taken from the English-language product page.
• Kurakon Good for Vegans Chickpea and Textured Soy Protein Keema Curry/くらこん Good for Vegans ひよこ豆と大豆ミートのキーマカレー. Ingredients: Tomato paste (tomato grown in Portugal), chickpeas, soy protein, brown sugar, vegetable extract powder, curry powder, yeast extract, brewed vinegar, salt.
Contains
Soy
Does not contain
Egg, Milk, Shrimp, Crab, Wheat, Buckwheat, Peanut, Almond, Abalone, Squid, Salmon roe, Orange, Cashew nut, Kiwi, Beef, Walnut, Sesame, Salmon, Mackerel, Chicken, Banana, Pork, Matsutake mushroom, Peach, Japanese Mountain Yam, Apple, Gelatin
Online purchase links: Kurakon online shop, Rakuten Ichiba
The only curry from Mujirushi Ryohin stores that appears vegan is the Chana Masala, a bean curry that uses chickpeas, tomato, cumin, coriander and cardamom.
• Mujirushi Ryohin Small Chana Masala Curry/無印良品チャナマサラ小さめカレー. Ingredients: Chickpeas, tomato puree, fried onions, tomato paste, dried fried onions, chickpea puree, rapeseed oil, wheat flour, salt, grated garlic, grated ginger, coriander, green peppers, cumin, starch, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric, fennel, clove, red pepper, laurel, mace.
Product contains wheat and soybeans.
Items containing shrimp, crab, egg, dairy, and peanuts are processed on the same equipment.
Photo from website.
• Mujirushi Ryohin Apple and Vegetable Curry/無印良品国産りんごと野菜カレー contains honey/hachimitsu/はちみつ so is not vegan.
• Muso Thai Vegetable Curry (yellow)/ムソータイベジタブルカレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (onions, potatoes, beans), organic coconut milk, organic yellow curry paste (organic shallots, organic lemongrass, salt, organic garlic, organic red pepper, organic coriander seeds, organic galangal, organic ginger, organic cumin, curry powder), vegetable oil, yeast extract, salt/acidifier (citric acid).
The Bio Floresta website listing states that it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. (ヴィーガンやベジタリアンの方にもおススメです。) (Only the yellow variety- the red and green Thai Vegetable Curry are not vegan nor vegetarian.) It can be found in natural food shops or online at Amazon or the Bio Floresta website.
Online shopping link: Bio Floresta
Photo from website.
S&B customer service recommends their Eighteen-Vegetable Curry and S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients for vegans, even though some of their other products don’t have obvious animal ingredients in the ingredient lists. It isn’t 100% clear which of their other products are suitable for vegans and they would not provide additional information about this upon request.
• S&B Eighteen-Vegetable Curry with No Animal Ingredients/エスビー 具材充実１８種類の野菜カレー１８０ｇ(動物性原材料不使用). Ingredients: Vegetables (young corn, lotus root, red bell pepper, ginger, tomato, garlic), sauteed onion, fried eggplant, corn oil, wheat flour, salt, apple paste (apples, high-fructose corn syrup), roasted spices (spices, corn oil), sugar, spices, yeast extract, curry powder, vegetables · fruit paste (reduced starch syrup, prune, dextrin, bell pepper, daikon, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, yellow bell pepper, Napa cabbage, tomato puree, onion, blueberry, pineapple, kabocha squash, salt, carrot, celery, olive oil)/thickener (modified starch), coloring agent (caramel, etc.?) It appears the last ingredient(s) in the ingredient list on the S&B website product page for this item are cut off.
Per their website, this curry contains no animal ingredients. It also has a Japanese Vegetarian Association mark on it. This particular JVA mark is for vegan products and reads 純菜食/jyunsaishoku, meaning “pure vegetarian diet.”
This product is medium spicy.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, SB Otodoke (S&B’s online shop)
Photo from website.
The following product does not have animal ingredients listed in the ingredient list.
This vegetable and chickpea curry is aimed at children from 1 year old who have allergies. It contains 20 kinds of fruits and vegetables and can be eaten as-is, without heating up, so is perfect for lunch. It’s marked as very mild.
Ingredients (retort pouch): Saute de onion, vegetables · fruit (carrot, sweet potato, potato, date, green pepper, ginger, celery, garlic), chickpea, rapeseed oil, beet sugar, curry powder, tomato paste, salt, yeast extract, vegetable · fruit paste (reduced starch syrup, prunes, dextrin, green pepper, daikon radish, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, yellow pepper, Chinese cabbage, tomato puree, onion, blueberry, pineapple, pumpkin, salt, carrot, celery, olive oil), sweet corn powder, spice.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, SB Otodoke (S&B’s online shop)
Photo from website.
Be sure not to get the following item as it contains pork.
• S&B Little Prince Minced Pork and Vegetable Curry/エスビー食品 カレーの王子さま豚ひき肉と野菜のカレー
Some AEON and AEON-affiliated stores carry a line of products called Sea and Earth Deli, produced by Mayumi Nishimura, a well-known macrobiotic chef. Per her blog, these products are “100％植物性食品,” which means 100% made of plant ingredients.
Front of package photos courtesy of @jari.eats, June 2021.
• Sea and Earth Deli Curry with Soybean Meat/監修 西邨マユミ 海と大地のデリ スパイスとトマトの酸味がきいた大豆ミートのカレー. Ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, vegetables (onion, ginger, garlic), spices, rapeseed oil, date puree, granulated vegetable protein, salt, starch, kombu seaweed, dried shiitake mushrooms.
Product contains soybeans.
Online purchase link: Aeon Style Online
Photos from website.
• Sea and Earth Deli Lentil Curry/監修 西邨マユミ 海と大地のデリ レンズ豆ぎっしり！ココナッツミルクのコクがまろやかなレンズ豆のカレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (zucchini (from Indonesia), onion, garlic, ginger), lentils, coconut milk, rapeseed oil, jalapeño puree, spices, miso, salt/acidulant.
Product contains soybeans.
Online purchase link: Aeon Style Online
Second photo from website.
• Sea and Earth Deli Spinach Curry/監修 西邨マユミ 海と大地のデリ トマトピューレと味噌の旨みがしっかりほうれん草のカレー. Ingredients: Spinach paste (domestically produced), vegetables (onion, garlic, ginger), tomato puree, coconut milk, rapeseed oil, spices, miso, salt.
Product contains soybeans.
Online purchase link: Aeon Style Online
Second photo from website.
• Sea and Earth Deli Tomato Curry with Eggplant/監修 西邨マユミ 海と大地のデリ 野菜の旨みとスパイスがきいたなすとトマトのカレー. Ingredient list not currently available.
Online purchase link: Aeon Style Online
Second photo from website.
• Seijo Ishii Spicy Curry/成城石井スパイシーカレー. Ingredients: Tomato puree, chickpea, onion, sugar, edible rapeseed oil, white quinoa, grated garlic, salt, grated ginger, garam masala (black pepper, coriander, cardamom, red pepper, allspice, white pepper, cumin, cinnamon), coriander, cumin, turmeric, thickener (modified starch).
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, Seijo Ishii supermarket’s online shop
The product page on the 7-11 website for the following curry says “動物性原材料不使用,” no animal ingredients used.
• 7-11 Keema Curry with Soy Meat/7-11大豆ミートのキーマカレー. Ingredients: Sautéed onion (produced in China), tomato paste, processed soybean product (defatted soybeans, oat fiber), fried eggplant, granulated vegetable protein, vegetables (red bell pepper, garlic, ginger), onion powder, concentrated carrot juice, corn oil, curry powder, spices, sugar, salt, onion extract, yeast powder/seasonings (amino acids, etc.), thickener (processed starch), caramel coloring, calcium sulfate, citric acid, calcium lactate.
The vegan restaurant chain T’s (T’s Tan Tan ramen shops and T’s Restaurant) sells retort curry pouches in their shops in 3 flavors: Smile, Ethnic, and Keema. For more on their restaurants, check our blog’s Fast Food, T’s Tan Tan section.
Online purchase link: T’s Restaurant online shop
Photos from website.
Eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, buckwheat, shrimp, and crab are not used to make this Aeon house brand Topvalu curry, which is aimed at allergy sufferers. According to the website, allergy information may vary depending on the manufacturing plant, so it’s necessary to check the package for details (presumably they are referring to cross-contamination). It also says (from autotranslate): “The specifications of the product may change without notice, and the contents described may differ depending on the region, so please be sure to check the product label before purchasing.”
• Topvalu Curry made with Vegetables and Rice Puree/トップバリュ 野菜と米ピューレでつくった カレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots), curry roux (corn flour, sugar, curry powder, salt, palm oil, potato powder, tomato powder, yeast extract, onion powder), rice puree, olive oil, bouillon (salt, sugar, yeast extract, dextrin, onion, spices).
Photo from website.
The front of the package of the following keema curry says “animal ingredients not used” in Japanese, doubutsusei yurai no genryou fushiyou/動物性由来の原料不使用. It also indicates that the product contains no meat, fish, or egg. It was spotted in the refrigerated section in a branch of Natural Lawson convenience store (not regular Lawson) in November 2020.
• Toyo Corp. Soymeat and Vegetable Keema Curry/トーヨーコーポレーション 大豆ミートと野菜でつくったキーマカレー. Ingredients: Vegetables (carrot, potato), sauteed onion (domestically produced), chickpeas, tomato paste, granulated vegetable protein, curry powder, rapeseed oil, reduced starch syrup, garlic paste, salt, ginger paste, hydrolyzed protein, dry tomato, yeast extract powder/seasoning (amino acids, etc.), glycine, thickener (xanthan gum), flavoring, sweetener (sucralose).
Product contains soybeans.
ROUX
It can be tough to find curry roux in block form that doesn’t have animal ingredients. There are two flavors of My Staple Curry, sold at Daiso 100-yen shops.
• My Staple Curry (Mild)/ウチの定番カレー甘口. Ingredients: Ingredients: Wheat, edible vegetable oil (palm oil, rapeseed oil), sugar, salt, starch, curry powder, black pepper, roasted onion powder, vegetable bullion, powdered soy sauce, cumin, garlic, roasted garlic powder, seasoning (amino acids etc.), caramel coloring, acidity regulator, spice extract.
Product contains wheat and soy.
• My Staple Curry (Medium)/ウチの定番カレー中辛. Ingredients: Wheat, edible vegetable oil (palm oil, rapeseed oil), sugar, salt, starch, curry powder, black pepper, cumin, garlic, roasted onion powder, vegetable bullion, powdered soy sauce, roasted garlic powder, red pepper, seasoning (amino acids etc.), caramel coloring, acidity regulator, spice extract.
Product contains wheat and soy.
S&B makes one type of Golden Curry for the Japanese market that doesn’t contain animal ingredients. Be sure the package says “no animal-derived ingredients” in English as S&B makes other curry roux blocks with animal ingredients and the packaging of some of their other products looks extremely similar. It’s not available at most supermarkets, but it’s been reported found at Don Quixote stores. It is medium hot.
• S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients/エスビー ゴールデンカレー動物性原材料不使用. Ingredients: Flour, edible oils (palm oil, rapeseed oil), salt, sugar, curry powder, spices, caramel color, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), acidulant.
Online purchase links: Amazon Japan, Rakuten Ichiba
Photo from website.
S&B customer service recommends their Eighteen-Vegetable Curry and S&B Golden Curry Japanese-style Curry Sauce Mix, no animal-derived ingredients for vegans, even though some of their other products don’t have obvious animal ingredients in the ingredient lists. It isn’t 100% clear which of their other products are suitable for vegans and they would not provide additional information about this upon request.
• S & B Little Prince Curry, Roux Type/エスビー食品 カレーの王子さま ルウタイプ. Ingredients: Edible oils (palm oil, rapeseed oil), dextrin (tapioca starch), tapioca starch, salt, white sorghum, beet sugar, vegetable paste (palm oil, onion, pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, sweet corn, tomato puree, spinach, asparagus, kale), curry powder, Chinese cabbage extract powder, yeast extract powder, fruit paste (rapeseed oil, dextrin, reduced starch syrup, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, apple, banana)/coloring agent (caramel coloring, paprika coloring), flavoring.
Product includes banana and apple.
Combines sweetness of domestic yellow and green vegetables and fruit. No chemical seasoning added. For children from 1 year old.
Online purchase links: Rakuten Ichiba, SB Otodoke (S&B’s online shop)
This post contains some affiliate links, and if you follow one of those links and then purchase a product you help support this blog without any additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your kind support!
Is it Vegan? (Japan) 