Japanese tradition What Is Dashi? The Invisible Heart of Japanese Cooking
When people think of Japanese food, sushi or ramen might come to mind. But behind the scenes, many dishes are brought to...
2025-06
Japanese tradition 
Japanese tradition Shun: Embracing Japan’s Seasonality Through Food
One of the most beautiful concepts in Japanese food culture is the idea ofshun (旬)— the precise moment when a food is at...
Fermentation What is Nukaduke? Japan’s Crunchy Fermented Treasure with a Surprising Modern Comeback
What is Nukaduke? Japan’s Crunchy Fermented Treasure with a Surprising Modern ComebackHave you heard ofnukaduke (糠漬け)—th...
Japanese tradition Umeboshi: Japan’s Timeless Preserved Plums and a Taste of Early Summer
As Japanese rainy season approaches — known as tsuyu (梅雨), literally "plum rain" — it also marks the time when ume, or J...
Fermentation What is Miso? – A Fermented Staple Rich in Flavor, History, and Creativity
If you’ve ever enjoyed a bowl of miso soup or tasted a rich miso glaze on grilled fish, you’ve encountered one of Japan’...
Japanese tradition Embracing the Japanese Seasons: Understanding the 24 Solar Terms
We all know 4 seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.But in Japan, there's lot more to feel!Japan's deep connection ...
Fermentation What is Koji? Japan’s Magical Mold Behind Miso, Sake, and More
What is Koji? Japan’s Magical Mold Behind Miso, Sake, and MoreWhen you hear the word mold, your first thought might be r...
Japanese tradition My First Umeshigoto: Preserving the Taste of Early Summer
Every year in Japan, as the rainy season (tsuyu 梅雨) begins, a quiet ritual takes place in many households:umeshigoto, or...
Japanese tradition My First Germinated Brown Rice (hatsuga gen-mai)
To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of brown rice(gen-mai 玄米). I know I should benefit from higher nutritional value—but I...
Fermentation Homemade Natto experience: My Fermentation Experiment with Sticky Results
If you've ever lived abroad, you'll know the feeling—craving a food that simply doesn’t exist where you are. For me, tha...