Hi, I'm Japanese and a mom with two boys. I would like to start up the vegetarian mom group "VEGGIE MOM" to exchange the recipe, new restaurant or shop, and child upbringing tips.
I used to live in UK where I turned vegetarian. It looks difficult to be a vegetarian here in Japan, but still you can enjoy being one with kids. Let's talk and have fun! Hope to get together twice or once a month in the park or the vegetarian restaurant.
And give me information about your favorite recipe, restaurant and shop! (I'm looking for a tahini sauce and falafel recipe. If you have one, please let me konw!)
If you're interested, contact me. rie.obe[at]jcom.home.ne.jp

dear rie, glad to be able to help you ion case you want to prepare vegetarian stuff. I dont know about tahini sauce or falafal prep, but I could help you with other veggie stuff a la Indian style.
Cheers, ruchika

Dear Ruchika,
Thank you very much for responding to me. I'm very interested in Indian vegetarian dish indeed. Because I only make vegetarian curry as Indian dish. What a shame! Would you like to recommend some recipe or books to me? How do you get ingredients? Which shop do you go shopping? Thanks! Rie

Hi Ruchika / Rie,
I can join in too. I just moved to Japan 2 weeks back and my family is primarily vegetarian.
The first week, I too felt that it might be diffcult to enjoy a good vegetarian diet here, but it as not been that bad.
Cabbage and soy bean sprouts are comparatively inexpensive than cabbage or cauliflower. There are a lot of greens available - I am trying them out one by one. I guess initially I was looking for the most familiar vegetables - beans, broccoli, green peas etc. But there are lot of other optionas available and I just need to get used to it. I just add all possible vegetables to noodles, eggs and rice to make a complete meal.
Regards, Maggie. mgvalli [at] yahoo.com

Dear Maggie and Rie,
Nice to know taht i can be of any help to you. I knwo a couple of web sites and a a couple of books too that i have used. Let me consolidate thsi info as you knwo with cooking, if pictures and stuff is also there, it is better.

Regarding shopping, you can get everything in Tokyo, so dont worry, in fact it gets delievered to our place. Esp good if you are ordering soem heavy stuff like Flour / rice. Give me some time. In the meantime, I will post some simple receipes that I use at home.
cheers, ruchika

From now till 9/7 is Tokyo Vegetarian "Week"
A very wide range of events. Some in English too! The homepage is http://www.tokyovwf.com/ and then click on "English".
Jack at Tengu Natural Foods

Hello Rie,
Sounds really good! We have just been looking for some families who raise up their children as vegetarian or vegan. I am Japanse (semi-vegitarian) and my husband (vegan) is British. We live in Setagaya-ku,Tokyo with a 4 month old baby. It would be happy if we could join the group and play together. Please let me know more details! Have fun