shun– tag –

Edamame are young, green soybeans, with another name "azemame" (meaning “ridge beans”) in Japan, where farmers used to plant them along the ridges of rice paddies to protect the embankments. When you are boiling edamame, the main tip is ...

On July 7th, we'll welcome the Tanabata Festival, also known as ”Shichiseki no Sekku.” It is one of Japan's five seasonal festivals. In the central Kanto region, it is celebrated on July 7th according to the modern calendar, but in Senda...

July-”Flying Fish” Flying fish (”Tobiuo”) are in season during the summer. When you're out on a boat on a hot summer day, the chances are you might see fish flying high and racing along at about the same speed. These are flying fish. Lik...

Did you know there's a fish unique to Japan? It's called "ayu," or sweetfish. Japanese love Ayu because it's a national fish, endemic to Japan. It can be found in parts of China and Taiwan, but Japan boasts the largest population of Ayu....

“Sazae,” or turban shells, are typical marine snails that you might start spotting around April and May, when sea temperatures go up. During this time, these snails become more active, making it easier to catch them. In the past, many sa...

Bonito, or “katsuo” is one of the staple foods in Japanese cuisine, with a history dating back to the ”Nihon Shoki,” one of Japan’s oldest historical records. The very first dish ever in the country is ”katsuo namasu,” sliced raw bonito ...

When spring arrives, "wakatake-ni" is one dish that comes to mind - a delicious mix of simmered bamboo shoots and wakame seaweed. The dish packs plenty of aroma from bamboo shoots to enjoy. “Takenoko," a Japanese term for bamboo shoots, ...

Sakura, or cherry blossoms, have a special, long-cherished place in Japanese culture. When sakura season comes around, it brings a sense of joy and excitement for a new beginning, as school and company entrance ceremonies are planned to ...

Kinome is the young sprout of the Japanese pepper tree called “sansho,” and is one of the signature scents reminding you of spring. From spring to early summer, we often use it as "suikuchi," a fancy garnish, in dishes like soups and sim...

When spring comes and the water warms up, shellfish start to taste really wonderful. One of the favorites is the "asari," or Japanese littleneck clam. Clam digging, known locally as “shiohigari,” has been a fun springtime tradition in Ja...