letscooking

I'm doing some research on foreign influences on Japanese food (e.g. Japanese curry is an import of Indian curry via the British Navy, etc.) and I'm stuck on a couple of the more obscure "imported" foods. Can anyone help me to identify: 1. When cabbage rolls started becoming popular in Japan? Was there a predominant influence from a particular country's cabbage rolls at the time it was adopted (and adapted) into Japanese cuisine? 2. Where does carrot-based salad dressing come from? Is it a Japanese invention for a western food? 3. When did canned tuna become such a large part of Japanese cuisine? Was this the influence of the British Navy, or a more global shift towards canned food at this time? Your suggestions are welcome!

I'm doing a research project on foreign influences on Japanese food, and I've got one item on my research list that is stumping me. Does anyone know where Carrot dressing came from? It seems to be a Japanese invention, as far as I know, but raw salad is definitely an import... Anyone know of its origin?