Choosing Compassion: A Vegan Meal in the Japanese Countryside

In a small restaurant in Inuyama, I found something rare—a place that welcomes vegan diners with warmth and care.

Vegan options in the Japanese countryside are still hard to come by. My dear friend, who is vegan, often struggles to find places to eat when she visits. And yet, she never gives up. She keeps coming back to Japan, staying true to herself.

I admire that.
Her way of living is not always understood. Sometimes it’s met with rejection or confusion. But she stays steady, kind, and unshaken.

I’m not vegan, but when I’m with her, I choose to eat like she does. Not out of obligation, but out of respect—for her, and for what she believes in. It’s a small way of showing that I care.

That meal reminded me that respect doesn’t always need words. Sometimes it’s simply sharing a plate, honoring someone’s values, and appreciating the choices that make each of us who we are.

Yuko