Autumn has arrived in Japan. As the weather gradually becomes cooler, the leaves begin to change into beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow. Japan has many wonderful places to enjoy autumn foliage, from traditional gardens and temples to mountains and parks. Perhaps because this is such a beautiful season to visit Japan, we have recently been receiving more inquiries and reservations for our cooking classes from international visitors. Discover Japan Through Food When visiting Japan, there are many things…

Some visitors to Japan describe Japanese food as mild or lightly seasoned. Compared with cuisines that use large amounts of garlic, chili, herbs, or ground spices, traditional Japanese dishes may seem simple at first. However, this does not mean that Japanese food lacks flavor. Japanese cooking often builds flavor in a different way. Instead of covering ingredients with strong spices, it tends to use dashi, fermented seasonings, seasonal ingredients, and small aromatic accents. So, why does Japanese food often use…

When people think of Japanese food, they often picture the dark green sheet wrapped around sushi or onigiri. This is called “nori.” Nori is thin, dried edible seaweed used in many Japanese dishes. It may look like a simple ingredient, but it adds aroma, flavor, color, and texture to everyday meals. You can find nori in sushi, rice balls, noodle dishes, rice bowls, bento boxes, and Japanese breakfasts. Why is nori used in so many Japanese foods? What Is Nori?…