Traditional Japanese cuisine consists of meat, fish, rice, noodles, vegetables, and algae.
The dish best known outside the borders is sushi (sliced raw fish on a serving of aromatic rice), but each region of Japan has varied and savory specialties. The cuisine and the meal are a powerful symbol in Japanese culture.
The most popular drinks are, of course, sake (rice alcohol, actually called nihonshu in Japanese) and tea. There is a rich variety of both, with some flavors that only connoisseurs can truly appreciate.