Dashi, The Conclusive factor of Japanese Cuisines
What is Dashi? Dashi is the soup of “Umami”, which is extracted by boiling or soaking the ingredients in the water.The ingredients for abstracting dashi are bonito flakes, Kombu (sea cabbage) and dried fish etc.Umami factor is also included not only in Japanese ingredients ,but also commonly used in different kinds of food around the world, like cheese, tomatoes, and bacon.Umami is becoming a kind of buzz word for cooking world.(You can see the explanation of Umami on the website of Ajianomoto as below.) It is indispensable for Miso soup, Udon, Nabe (One pot dishes), and boiled food called “Nimono” in Japanese. How to make Kombu Dashi( Dashi of sea cabbage) […]
Hyakunin-Isshu, The Sentimental Poems of The Ancient Japanese Becoming Popular
Hyakunin-Isshu is the name of the anthology of 100 poems selected by Fujiwara no Teika in 1235. Teika is considered one of the greatest poets in Japanese history. These are popular because of a traditional card game named "Karuta".
Zoni , the good luck food eaten at New Year’s
Zoni is Traditional New Year's soup, the principal ingredient of which is Mochi(rice cake) .
Mochi has long been thought to bring good fortune, and Zoni is the most auspicious food eaten at New Year's.
Hatsumoude, The first visit to a Shrine during the New Year
Hatsumoude is the word used to refer to a person's first visit to a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple during the New Year.
“Otoso” The Sake for prayer of new year
Otoso is Medicinal Sake drunk at New Year's; formerly believed to prevent illnesses. The custom of drinking Otoso came from China and was practiced at court during the Heian period(794-11185).
” Joya no Kane” The tradition of hitting a big bell at temples on New Year’s Eve
The custom of hitting a bell at temples originated in China. It has became common in Japan since the Kamakura period (12-13th century) and become a yearly event on New Year's Eve to Year's Day.
"Joya" means the night time of New Year's Eve to Year's Day and "Kane" means bell.
The king of sweet ingredients for Japanese confectionery “Anko”
"Anko"（Red bean paste) is an indispensable sweet ingredient for Japanese confectionery and plays a primary role in Japanese sweets.
Miso soup, the taste of Mom’s dishes!
We Japanese have been drinking Miso soup(Miso-Shiru in Japanese) on a daily basis since we were little kids and are familiar with it.
Good to be in “Tatami rooms” to relax
Tatami mat is traditional Japanese flooring made of woven straw.
A typical Japanese house has at least one tatami room as a parlour which is used for visitors to stay at night.
Because tatami rooms were once so common, we express the area size by the number of Tatami mats.
Discover the Fascination of Jido Hanbaiki: Japan’s Ubiquitous Vending Machines
Explore the phenomenon of 'Jido Hanbaiki' - Japan's ubiquitous vending machines. Learn why these machines are everywhere, from public safety to clever business strategies. Discover the diverse offerings, including drinks, unique vending machines, and high-tech marketing innovations. Dive into the world of "Jido Hanbaiki"!