Does Japanese food stores sell black bean sauce?

[ET Phone Home]

Hi there,

I guess this is a really weird question. I moved to Japan just last month and I plan to be here for several years. I was trying to find black bean sauce at the supermarkets here... to cook some Chinese stir-fry, but nobody in Japan knows what I am talking about. First question... do they have black bean sauce in Japan? If they do, how can you ask for it in Japanese? I don't know if it's "kuroi mame no saa-su" or if it's something else...

I was also trying to find some good seasoning spices for meats... but I'm not sure what's good in Japan.

Really, is there anything online that describes how to shop for food in Japan? I was especially hoping that there was some sort of master list, where you can find the Japanese names of food items (example: apple = ringo). Maybe even some recommendations on what types of food items to get in Japan.

Thanks for any help.

[annie]

I'm not sure I've seen it... but if they sell it at the ordinary grocery store it would be in the section with the other Chinese food products.

Here's my list of import stores, check out their websites to see if there's a shop near you.
http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/
http://www.kobebussan.co.jp/
http://www.yamaya.co.jp/en/core.htm
http://www.kaldi.co.jp/top.html

There's also Costco (or the Flying Pig, if you don't have a Costco near you) and the Foreign Buyers Club. (None of those are worth the money for me, as I can usually find things to satisfy my foreign food cravings at the above shops)

[ET Phone Home]

I found it! It was called "towachizyan" in Japanese and Lee Kum Kee makes it. I found it at a Hearts Supermarket next to my apartment, an organic market that is popular in my area. The name was written in Chinese characters and in katakana, so I am sure the name itself is considered foreign. My Wordtank electric dictionary doesn't recognize all of the characters.

I did ask for "kuroi mame"... but what they showed me was something a little different. Yes, they do have "black beans" here in Japan, but they are very big and round. I don't think they are the same as Chinese black beans.

Anyways, fyi... and thank you Annie for the links.