Blogs

There is so much written about the beauty and profoundness of cherry blossoms. And yet, my childhood memories of them are quite simple.I grew up in Mimasaka, a small town in Okayama prefecture. There, … read more

In Japan, one of the sure signs of the arrival of spring is Hina-Matsuri, the Festival of Dolls. Japanese have celebrated Hina-Matsuri since at least the 8th-century Heian period. During this … read more

Winter solstice will be upon us soon. Days will begin to get longer, and the promise of new beginnings is in the air.As we put 2017 behind us, just as we do every year, we want to say thanks to our … read more

  Japanese is a culture of etiquette, with elaborate rules for table manners.The following is a brief tutorial on Japanese table manners and polite phrases, which you can practice … read more

Kinoko-gohan is one of my autumn favorites. I have used a frying pan with a lid to cook the rice since I often get asked for Japanese recipes from friends who don’t have a Japanese rice cooker. … read more