Halal cooking in Japan: what to check and where to buy

豚 / 豚肉 / ポーク = pork

Also 豚脂 or ラード (lard) and ポークエキス (pork extract) in ingredient lists

ゼラチン = gelatin

Usually from pork; found in desserts, gummies and some soups

酒 / アルコール / みりん = alcohol

Also 洋酒 and ワイン; many seasonings list one of these

Mirin (みりん)

Hon-mirin is about 14% alcohol; みりん風調味料 has less but often still some

If not: Sugar with a little water, or halal mirin from halal shops

Soy sauce (醤油)

Many brands list アルコール as a preservative

If not: Halal-certified soy sauce from halal shops or online

Curry roux (カレールウ)

Most contain pork or beef fat

If not: Curry powder (カレー粉) with flour and butter, or halal roux

Stock cubes and dashi (コンソメ / 中華だし)

Often contain pork or chicken extract

If not: Halal stock cubes, or kombu (昆布) and katsuobushi (かつお節) dashi

Ham, bacon and sausages

Mostly pork, even chicken ones may have pork casings

If not: Halal sausages from halal shops, or canned tuna and smoked salmon

Cooking sake (料理酒)

Contains alcohol and salt

If not: Leave it out and add a pinch of sugar