4. Mayo Mania — Japan’s Secret Obsession
Forget ketchup — mayonnaise is Japan’s national obsession.
Since the 1920s, when Toichiro Nakashima founded the Kewpie brand, mayo has found its way onto sushi, noodles, pizza, and even ice cream. Yes — mayo ice cream.
Japanese mayo is smoother, sweeter, and richer (thanks to egg yolks and apple vinegar), and some people are so devoted they carry small bottles of it in their bags.
It’s not just a condiment — it’s a lifestyle.