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  During summertime, many people in Japan enjoy hot and spicy food because they believe spices help cool you down by making you perspire, while building an appetite to fight the sweltering weather. Because of this, many people turn to Japanese curry -- the perfect spicy dish! Made from rice, curry sauce, and a wide variety of vegetables and meat, it is commonly served in three main forms: curry rice, karē udon (thick noodles) and karē-pan (bread). The basic vegetables used in the dish are onions, carrots and potatoes. Various curry dishes can contain chicken, pork, beef, and seafood. Japanese curry can be served in anything from a soup bowl to a simple flat plate. It is normally poured over rice that is already in the center of the dish. Curry on rice can be considered a national dish, similar to ramen noodles. Because curry goes so well with rice, a staple food in Japan, it is a favorite dish in nearly every Japanese home and school kitchen. Source: Pinterest  History of Japa...

Dorayaki: Delight of Doraemon. A Must-Try Pancake in Japan Source: Pinterest  If you're a fan of Doraemon, then you've most likely heard of dorayaki - the fluffy, sweet pancake filled with red bean paste that's become synonymous with the lovable blue robot-cat. But did you know that dorayaki is also a beloved treat in Japan? This iconic snack has a rich history and cultural significance that makes it a must-try for anyone visiting the Land of the Rising Sun. Key Takeaways: Dorayaki is a popular treat in Japan that has gained widespread recognition due to its association with the cartoon character Doraemon. •The sweet red bean filling sandwiched between two fluffy pancakes is the traditional recipe for this classic snack, but many modern variations exist today. •Dorayaki is a symbol of Japanese hospitality, often served to guests as a gesture of welcome and goodwill. •Visitors to Japan can try authentic dorayaki at local food markets or try making it themselves using Doraemo...

  Japan is famous for its irresistible street food, from piping hot takoyaki balls to classic okonomiyaki pancakes. However, one of the country’s most iconic – and photogenic – snacks is taiyaki. These little fish-shaped treats are a traditional Japanese dessert that's somewhere between a cake and a waffle, typically filled with sweet red bean paste. Commonly sold fresh off the pan at festivals and street food stalls, you can also find modern versions filled with all kinds of delicious centers at specialist taiyaki shops. Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about this quintessential Japanese snack. Source: Pinterest  What is taiyaki?  Taiyaki is a popular type of Japanese street food, instantly recognizable thanks to its striking fish shape complete with intricate fins and scales. The snack takes its name from the words tai, meaning sea bream, and yaki, meaning to bake or grill. Despite sounding like a savory Japanese fish cake, taiyaki is actually usuall...

  Onigiri (or omusubi, the other name for the same thing), the cute little rice ball, has really become popular outside of Japan in the last few years, in large part it seems due to its iconic status in anime and manga. While the onigiri is not limited in Japanese food culture to just bento use, it's an indispensable part of the bento maker's repertoire. Source: Pinterest  First to dispell some onigiri myths... •Onigiri do not have to be triangular in shape. •Onigiri do not have to be covered with nori seaweed. •Onigiri do not have to have a filling. •If the rice is sushi rice (flavored with sushi vinegar), it is no longer onigiri, it's sushi. The one rule of onigiri is... Onigiri must be made with sticky, short- or medium-grain rice, ideally steam-cooked japonica type rice. If you can't get a hold of Japanese rice (also commonly sold as 'susi rice'), Italian medium-grain rices uses for risotto like vialone (which is the most like Japanese urichi-mai), arborio a...

Ramen is a noodle soup dish that was originally imported from China and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan in recent decades. Ramen are inexpensive and widely available, two factors that also make them an ideal option for budget travelers. Ramen restaurants, or ramen-ya, can be found in virtually every corner of the country and produce countless regional variations of this common noodle dish. Source: Google  Popular ramen types Ramen are typically categorized according to their soup base, although variations that combine the different bases are not uncommon. The main types of soup are: Shoyu (soy sauce) Source: Pinterest  Shoyu ramen soup is a clear, brown broth flavored with soy sauce (shoyu). The soup is usually made of chicken broth but often contains other meats such as pork, beef or fish depending on the region. Shoyu ramen is the most common type of ramen and is usually what is served when the menu does not specify a specific type of soup. Shio (salt) Sou...

What is Anmitsu ? Anmitsu is considered as a summer dessert but we can buy it all year around here in Japan. This Japanese style parfait is made of small cubes of agar agar jelly, red bean paste called anko, mochi, various fruits, ice cream (either vanilla or matcha flavor) and boiled red beans. It’s usually served with brown sugar syrup called Kuromitsu that you pour over the Anmitsu before enjoying this sweet. Anmitsu, was invented in Ginza. In 1894, Hanjiro Mori opened an adzuki-soup shop "Wakamatsu," which became widely successful. His son, Hanjiro Mori the Second, combined mitsumame, a dessert of boiled beans and molasses popular since Edo period, with adzuki bean paste to create the first anmitsu in 1930. This, was an instant hit. Since the moment, anmitsu has been "the dessert of Japan." Today, many varieties of anmitsu are sold; such as Cream anmitsu which is anmitsu with ice cream, Shiratama anmitsu, a dish of animtsu with rice-flour dumplings, and also the...

First thing’s first, what is omurice?   Eggs and rice, what a perfect pairing!  Omurice  is a classic Japanese dish that consists of an omelet filled with fried rice and ketchup. The word “ omu ” in Japanese means “to wrap,” which is why you’ll see it used in many other traditional dishes, and the combination of omu with raisu (rice) gives us the  word for this dish: omurice.  Where does omurice come from? Omurice is said to have been invented at a Western-inspired restaurant in Tokyo’s Ginza district when Western-style cafes were becoming widespread. It was so popular that it quickly spread all over Asia, and the world! This type of fusion Japanese cuisine is known as “yōshoku.” Ketchup may be American, but it is actually a very popular Japanese condiment. Ketchup is one of the stars of this dish because it adds a sweet and tangy character to the dish. The egg on top serves a purpose! Omelets, cooked rice and ketchup were not the only ingredients in  omuri...