What is the Bose Curry that Rashbehari Bose introduced in Japan?

Indian freedom fighter Rashbehari Bose took refuge in Japan around 1915 after he was under British scrutiny post his attempt to assassinate Viceroy Lord Hardinge in 1912. Reportedly, he adopted the name P. N thakur and posed as a relative of Rabindranath Tagore during his stay in Japan.

What is the story of the famous Indian curry introduced to Japan by Rashbehari Bose?

It was also a time when he was supported by several pan-Asian activists who opposed British colonial rule. Through these groups and meetings people he came in contact with Aizo and Kokko Soma, the owners of the Nakamuraya bakery in Tokyo.

This meeting became far more personal than diplomatic when he married their daughter, Toshiko Soma, in 1918; the couple had two children. However, Toshiko died young in 1925 and even after that Rashbehari Bose looked after his children and maintained a close relationship with the family.  When the Soma family entered into a full-fledged restaurant business, he was dissatisfied with the Indian curry that was then being served.

How was Rashbehari Bose’ curry different from regular curry?

Here it is important to point out that Rashbehari Bose did not introduce the dish because that was also introduced due to British influence. Bose, in fact, introduced the people of Japan to local curry, made with indigenous methods that achieved a perfect consistency, colour and taste. Thus, from the 1927 Nakamuraya introduced the Pure Indian-style Curry or the Jun Indo-shiki Curry.

What made Bose’ curry different from the one being prepared was the authenticity of the Indian ingredients, flavours and taste. He added aromatic spices, removed the flour-based roux, started putting in large pieces of chicken with bones and balanced the spice, sweetness and aromas to reach the right flavour.

However, this dish was one of the most expensive dishes on the menu, costing almost six or seven times the basic curry. Nevertheless, people flocked in for a taste of the authentic Indian curry, making it one of the most successful dishes of the restaurant. In fact, so successful it was that even today, almost a century after its introduction locals, tourists and even Indians alike visit the restaurant for a taste of the curry that Rashbehari Bose introduced in Japan.

For more updates, join/follow our WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube channels.