Question 1

Is it hard to find vegan or vegetarian food in Japan?

Accepted Answer

It can be. Many Japanese dishes use dashi (fish or bonito stock), and ingredients like pork fat, gelatin, or shrimp are hidden in foods that look plant-based. Labels are usually only in Japanese. Shojin scans a product barcode or ingredient list and tells you whether it fits a vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian diet.

Question 2

How can I check if a Japanese food is vegan or vegetarian?

Accepted Answer

Open Shojin and scan the barcode or the ingredient label. Its AI reads Japanese ingredient names and flags animal-derived ingredients, giving a clear vegan / vegetarian / pescatarian verdict in your language.

Question 3

What is dashi and why does it matter for vegetarians in Japan?

Accepted Answer

Dashi is a stock made from bonito (dried fish) or kombu (kelp) used in miso soup, sauces, and many seasonings. Bonito-based dashi makes otherwise vegetable dishes non-vegetarian, and it is extremely common. Shojin detects dashi and similar hidden animal ingredients.

Question 4

Does Shojin detect food allergens?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In addition to vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian verdicts, Shojin detects Japan's labeled food allergens — the 8 mandatory items (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab, walnut) plus 20 recommended items — from the ingredient list and shows them in 5 languages. You can register your own allergens to have them highlighted when detected. This is reference information only: always confirm with the actual product packaging, and if you have a severe allergy, consult a physician and do not rely on the app alone.

Question 5

Is Shojin free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Shojin is free for up to 10 scans per month. An optional premium plan offers unlimited scans and removes ads, with a 7-day free trial.