Terra Mae’s Alcatra Is a Masterful Bowl of Japanese-Portuguese Cultural History

Separated by two oceans, 7,000 miles, and an entire hemisphere (depending on the route), it may seem that Japan and Portugal have nothing in common. But history tells a more nuanced story of the two coastal countries dating back to the mid-16th century. The abridged version: A China-bound Portuguese ship blew off course in 1543, eventually landing in Tanegashima, a small island on Japan’s southern end. The two nations began trading goods that changed both countries forever. Japan acquired firearms, giving them an advantage in the wars to come, while Portugal imported Japanese swords, sabers and lacquerware.

Tempura—the Japanese term for lightly battered and fried foods—comes from the Portuguese word tempero, meaning seasoning and frying. Kabocha squash—a golden orange sweet gourd used in