June.27
Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – ICE is nice!
June.27
The (relatively cool) rainy season has just begun throughout most of Japan, but make no mistake: the oppressive heat and humidity of summer is on its way. The best culinary counterattack on high temperatures and humidity is ICE. Think glacier-like chunks of ice tinkling in glass bowls with swirls of sōmen noodles surrounding them… then imagine mounds…
June.02
Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – Japanese GREEN TEA
June.02
Drinking green tea, ryokucha 緑茶, is an integral part of daily life in Japan, enjoyed throughout the day. It can run the gamut from ritualized and formal occasions such as chakai ceremonial tea to the most casual moments and settings when thirst is quenched with bottles of green tea dispensed from vending machines found everywhere. Temperatures yesterday suddenly began…
Mar.11
Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – NAGA NEGI 長ネギ
Mar.11
Like many vegetables enjoyed in Japan today, naga negi traveled to Japan from China by way of the Korean peninsula; they have been cultivated in Japan since the 8th century. Naga [“long”] negi [“onions”] or Allium fistulosum, are called by various names outside Japan: Japanese leeks, Welsh onions, Japanese bunching onion, to name a few….
Feb.07
Elizabeth Andoh: A Taste of Culture – Hakusai 白菜
Feb.07
Walk in to any supermarket in Japan in January and you’ll find compact wedges and bulbous whole heads of HAKUSAI (Chinese cabbage; B. rapa ssp. Pekinensis). Most Asian groceries throughout the world sell hakusai in the winter. I hope you’ll buy some and join me in making pickles, soups, nabé and more. After buying hakusai, wrap whatever portion you won’t be using immediately…
Jan.23
New ‘Digital Gallery’ to Open Jan. 31 at Tokyo National Museum’s Gallery of Horyuji Treasures
Jan.23
Buddhism Tokyo National Museum
As part of a larger effort to make Japan’s cultural properties more available for study and enjoyment, the Tokyo National Museum is preparing to unveil a new interactive, technology-based exhibit that will become part of the regular exhibition in the museum’s Gallery of Horyuji Treasures. Initially, from Jan. 31, the new Digital Gallery of Horyuji…
Jan.22
The Life of Hokusai on All About Japan
Jan.22
Hokusai Nagata Collection ukiyoe
No doubt you’ve seen this iconic image of a huge wave that seems about to crash on Mt. Fuji. You probably also know that it was created by Hokusai, one of the very few Japanese artists to have achieved and maintained worldwide name recognition. But what else do you know about Hokusai, who changed his…
Dec.10
Dedicated Rosanjin Hall at the Adachi Museum of Art
Dec.10
Adachi Museum of Art calligraphy Shimane
The Adachi Museum of Art in Shimane Prefecture has greatly expanded its holdings of ceramics and other other works by the great 20th-century epicure Kitaoji Rosanjin (1883–1959). In a dedicated building that opened in April 2020 the museum shares Rosanjin’s dishes and lacquerware, of course, but also his calligraphy, carved seals and even metalwork lanterns….
Oct.29
Modern Japanese Painting: Nihonga Explained
Oct.29
Adachi Museum of Art Nihonga
Nihonga draws on the traditions of over a thousand years, yet is a distinct genre of modern Japanese painting that developed from around the turn of the twentieth century. Today, it has evolved into an international art form, adopted by artists of many nationalities. Subject matter, too, is no longer limited to traditional Japanese themes….