When I first discovered
karēpan (curry bread) existed in Japan, I was very happy. My dad is a keen sandwich maker, and a typical after-work snack for him is to use leftover Indian takeout as a filling. So if anything, karēpan is somewhat a taste of home.
Karēpan combines two staples:
karē (curry) and bread. Curry was first introduced to Japan in the late 19th century by the British (via the Indian subcontinent), who had by this point in time had their own nascent affinity for Indian food. Japanese-style curry retains that antique (some may say inauthentic) curry-powder taste, and has become a comfort food across the country; it’s a popular school lunch menu item and a weekly tradition for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
It s Australia Day, sparks are likely to fly, and not just from the fireworks and the traditional barbecues that mark the occasion. Here it s a day of strong passions, but how do other nations celebrate their national days? Mostly they commemorate the foundation of a nation, but also liberation or independence, such as Bastille Day in France, Republic Day in India (also on January 26) or Fiestas Patrias in Chile and Peru.
Waitangi Day, New Zealand
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A national holiday celebrated on February 6, Waitangi Day marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown and some 45 Maori chiefs. Signed at Treaty House, the home of the British representative in the Bay of Islands, the British intended the treaty as a lever to enshrine their authority over the chiefs and establish their claim to sovereign rights. Many of the chiefs did not see it quite the same way, and the signing of the treaty was quickly followed by the Northern