Monthly Archives for February 2016
Hot Pot (Nabe, 鍋)
Nabe (鍋) literally translates to hot pot or cooking pot. It derives from nabemono (鍋物), but is called nabe for short. It is a soup based dish that can be served in a variety of ways like sukiyaki or shabu … Continue reading
Souvenir (Omiyage お土産)
Souvenirs are a huge part of Japanese culture especially when you travel to a different area. Certain places in Japan have specialty products like Kyoto for matcha (powdered green tea) and Hokkaido for seafood. When giving a souvenir or omiyage (お土産) … Continue reading
Toh-shiya (Archery Contest)
Toh-shiya is an archery contest that is held at the Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto and dates back to the 12th century. This traditional ceremony is scheduled to the closest Sunday to January 15th. The event marks the first shooting of … Continue reading
Natto
Natto is a beloved type of food in Japan. It is fermented soybeans that can be eaten in a variety of ways. However, it is has a very strong smell and aftertaste. It lingers for a while even though you … Continue reading
Prefecture Mascots
There is a mascot for every prefecture in Japan. The country was already a cute explosion with all their goods, but even their representative mascots are adorable except for some like Hokkaido’s mascot. Usually when you hear mascot they are … Continue reading