The birth of “Anpan,” a sweet bun with red bean paste
Generally speaking, “anpan” is a small bun filled with red bean paste which has been quite popular as a sweets amongst Japanese people. “An” means the filling inside the bread, …
Author: Takeshi Shimizu
The Story of Yokohama Three Towers
The story of Yokohama three towers (横浜三塔物語) is a kind of urban legends that if you go to the three spots where you can see all three towers at the …
The Origin of Ningyoyaki
Ningyoyaki (人形焼) is one of the most famous types of confectionery or souvenirs of Tokyo. It is a tiny cake baked in a small mold, and it’s filled with sweet …
The Birth of “Katsu-Sando,” a Sandwich with a Deep Fried Cutlet.
Katsu Sando (カツサンド) is probably one of the most popular sandwiches in Japan. “Sando” is a Japanese Katakana word for sandwich. You can find them at the convenience stores, supermarkets …
Tsukimi: a moon-viewing tradition in Japan
“Tsuki-mi” (月見), literally meaning “to look at the moon,” depicts the traditional moon-viewing events or autumnal customs in Japan. Since Japan has four distinct seasons, people have cherished the seasonal …
Sushi: A Sophisticated Delicacy or a Fast Food?
Sushi, generally consisting of vinegared rice and a topping, is a traditional Japanese delicacy and is now a well recognized cuisine worldwide. However, the word “sushi” has been typed differently …
Maneki Neko, the Beckoning Cat
Manekineko, a beckoning cat, is well known as a figure which you can find at the entrance of the shops or restaurants in Japan. It can be found with either …
“Una-ju,” a box of rice with glaze-grilled eel
Unaju (鰻重) is a special food for Japanese people. It is a grilled freshwater eel over charcoal on top of white rice with eel sauce. Eel sauce is a great …
Suica, a Pre-paid IC Card in Japan
Pre-paid IC cards are indispensable items to carry with you to live an urban life in Japan. Above all, “Suica,” run by JR East Co., is fairly familiar with people …
Taiyaki: A Baked Pancake Shaped Like a Sea Bream
“Taiyaki” literally means “grilled sea bream” in Japanese. However, in this case, this is not a fish delicacy, but one of the most popular Japanese sweets: a pancake shaped like …