Allergy in Japanese: How to Explain a Food Allergy in Japan

The Japanese word for allergy is アレルギー (arerugī), borrowed from German Allergie. To say you have one, put the food first: ピーナッツアレルギーがあります (pīnattsu arerugī ga arimasu) means “I have a peanut allergy.” For any other food, swap the first word.

Staff in Japan generally understand the word アレルギー immediately, and many restaurant chains keep a printed allergen chart. What causes trouble is the next step: explaining that a trace matters, and that removing the topping is not enough.

The phrases that matter most

Shōryō demo inochi ni kakawarimasu translates literally as “even a small amount concerns my life.” It is the phrase Japanese parents use about their own children, and it signals that this is not a mild intolerance.

Food words

Reading a Japanese allergen label

Packaged food in Japan lists allergens right after the ingredients, usually in brackets that start with 一部に (ichibu ni, “partly contains”), for example （一部に小麦・卵・乳成分・大豆を含む）. Nine allergens must be declared: shrimp, crab, walnut, cashew, wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk and peanut. Twenty more, including almond, sesame, soy and macadamia, are only recommended, so a label can leave them out.

Two warnings you will see often:

• 同じ製造ラインで…を使用しています (made on the same line as…): a shared production line.
• 本品製造工場では…を含む製品を製造しています (this factory also makes products containing…): a shared factory.

What staff may tell you

Sushi, ramen and the usual suspects

• Sushi: soy sauce contains wheat; tamagoyaki is egg; many rolls carry sesame or mayonnaise; boards and knives are shared with shellfish. Tube wasabi often contains mustard and horseradish rather than real wasabi.
• Ramen: the noodles are wheat. Tantanmen uses sesame paste and sometimes peanuts, and toppings may include crushed nuts or sesame.
• Dashi: the stock under miso soup, noodle broths and simmered dishes is usually made from bonito fish flakes, and sometimes includes dried shellfish.
• Sweets: wagashi can contain walnut or chestnut paste; Western-style bakeries use almonds and hazelnuts freely.

If you have a reaction

The emergency number in Japan is 119 for an ambulance. Epipen is the word Japanese people use for any adrenaline auto-injector; doctors may say アドレナリン (adorenarin).

Can I bring an EpiPen to Japan?

Yes. Japan’s Ministry of Health lets travelers bring prescription medicine, including self-injection pens, without any paperwork if the amount is no more than a one-month supply. For more than that, you need an import certificate called a Yunyu Kakunin-sho, applied for before you travel. Carry the pens in your hand luggage with the pharmacy label or a copy of the prescription.

Common questions

How do you say “peanut” in Japanese?

ピーナッツ (pīnattsu) in everyday speech. Food labels and older recipes often use 落花生 (rakkasei), which means the same thing. Learn to recognise both.

How do I say “I have a nut allergy” in Japanese?

ナッツアレルギーがあります (nattsu arerugī ga arimasu). Because Japanese speakers may think of ナッツ as tree nuts only, add peanuts separately if they apply: ナッツとピーナッツのアレルギーがあります.

Is “allergy” the same word in Japanese and Korean?

Almost. Japanese uses アレルギー (arerugī) and Korean uses 알레르기 (allereugi). Both come from the German Allergie, so the sound is close enough to be recognised.

Do Japanese restaurants understand cross-contamination?

Chains and hotel restaurants usually do, and many publish allergen charts that mark shared fryers. Small family restaurants and izakaya vary a lot. If the answer to “same oil?” is a hesitation, treat that as a yes.