An iconic port city home to around 3.7 million people, Yokohama was a sleepy fishing village with a population of just 400 prior to the arrival of U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry and his fleet of Black Ships in 1853. With this forced opening, a wave of non-Japanese introduced new cultures, industries and foods to the city, some of which remain staples today.
The arrival of the West
One of the biggest changes to the Japanese diet in the years following Perry's arrival was the widespread introduction of meat, which had been banned for the previous 1,200 years. The demand for beef grew rapidly and many restaurants started to specialize in gyū-nabe (a hot pot made with thinly sliced beef and vegetables).