🍨

ice cream

Unicode: 1F368

Description

A Japanese rice ball, typically triangular or oval-shaped, wrapped in nori (seaweed). Often depicted with a small red dot or other visible filling indicator.

Group:

Food & Drink > food-sweet

Status:

fully-qualified

Emotion:

Typically evokes feelings of comfort, home, simplicity, or appreciation for Japanese cuisine. Can represent hunger, snack time, or a casual meal.

Backstory

This emoji was introduced in Unicode 6.0 (2010). Onigiri, or rice balls, have been a part of Japanese cuisine for centuries, serving as a portable and convenient meal. The emoji's depiction reflects its traditional appearance.

Usage Examples

  • Craving Japanese food: 'I really want some onigiri for lunch! 🍙'
  • Packing a bento: 'My bento box is ready! 🍱🍙'
  • Sharing a meal: 'Enjoying a picnic with some homemade onigiri. 🍙'
  • Simple comfort food: 'Nothing beats a good onigiri after a long day. 🍙'

Cultural Differences

Western culture:

Recognized as a popular Japanese food item, often associated with anime, manga, or Japanese restaurants. May be seen as exotic or a healthy snack.

East Asian culture:

A common staple food, packed for lunches, picnics, or quick meals. Represents familiarity, tradition, and homemade food. Often associated with 'comfort food'.