Category: Current Japan


Sept.19

A Taste of Culture – WATERMELON

Sept.19 Elizabeth Andoh

Watermelons are ancient — 4000-year-old wall art in Egyptian tombs include images of elongated, green-st…

June.25

A Taste of Culture – OCHA-ZUKÉ お茶漬け

June.25 Elizabeth Andoh

Japanese green tea connoisseurs keenly await the arrival of shin cha (new tea) at market early in May. Althoug…

Mar.15

A Taste of Culture – AKU NUKI

Mar.15 Elizabeth Andoh

Dear friends, colleagues and those who have expressed an interest in the FOOD & CULTURE of Japan: Kogomi&n…

Feb.12

A Taste of Culture – Banzuké RANKING

Feb.12 Elizabeth Andoh

by Elizabeth Andoh Dear friends, colleagues and those who have expressed an interest in the FOOD & CULTURE…

Nov.08

SURIBACHI: Groovy Grinding

Nov.08 Elizabeth Andoh

Every food culture is challenged to find ways of transforming unpalatable, indigestible foods into nourishing,…

Oct.30

DAIGAKU IMO: The Sweet Potato with a College Education

Oct.30 Elizabeth Andoh

While growing up in New York, I took lessons at The Art Student’s League on Saturday mornings. After cla…

Oct.13

MUCH ADO ABOUT MASKS

Oct.13 Amy Katoh

In Japan, masks ( and prayer!) have been the preferred mode of protection from sickness, allergies, colds and …

Sept.12

A Taste of Culture – NANBAN-ZUKÉ: Southern Barbarian Cookery

Sept.12 Elizabeth Andoh

The Portuguese missionaries and merchants who came to Japan late in the 16th century arrived by way of souther…

Sept.08

A Taste of Culture – Domburi Big Bowls

Sept.08 Elizabeth Andoh

The word DOMBURI refers to both the deep ceramic dish and the food served in it. Typically a generous portion …

June.10

A Taste of Culture – Kitchen Strategies

June.10 Elizabeth Andoh

TSUYU (literally, “plum rain”) arrives in Japan every year as spring turns to summer. Weather is n…