In what country did okonomiyaki originate?

Okonomiyaki originated in Japan. It is a Japanese savory pancake made from a wheat-flour batter and commonly combined with cabbage, eggs, meat, seafood, or other ingredients chosen by the cook or diner.

The dish has older ancestors, including funoyaki, a thin crepe-like food associated with Japanese tea culture. Related flour-based foods developed over centuries, but the name “okonomiyaki” became established in Osaka during the 1930s. The word combines okonomi, meaning “what you like” or “your preference,” with yaki, meaning “grilled” or “cooked.”

Two famous regional styles are Osaka or Kansai okonomiyaki, in which the ingredients are mixed into the batter, and Hiroshima okonomiyaki, in which the ingredients are layered. Hiroshima-style versions often include cabbage, pork, and yakisoba noodles. It is sometimes called a Japanese pancake, but it is usually savory rather than sweet.