This is what the dish looks like when made with whole wheat spaghetti instead of soba noodles These savory noodles are deeply satisfying, even though they are made from only five ingredients. Walnuts give them a deep autumnal flavor that feels just right for the season, and although they’re a very traditional Japanese dish, everybodyContinueContinue reading “Nutty Noodles”
Category Archives: October
What’s the most Japanese thing you could ever do? Go on a bus tour
I thought going to the holiest shrine in all Japan would be the most ur-cultural experience I could possibly have. I was wrong. It was the bus tour that really redefined “cultural experience,” but not quite in the way I was expecting. Thanks to TokyoCheapo for this fine bus photo Right now, the only wayContinueContinue reading “What’s the most Japanese thing you could ever do? Go on a bus tour”
SEP-OCT 2021
Click on photo or link to read the feature Japanese Home Cooking: How to host a great sake tasting Sake isn’t just for Japanese food anymore—restaurants all over the world are discovering it’s the perfect pairing for all kinds of food. But how do you know what kind of sake you like? Here’s everything you needContinueContinue reading “SEP-OCT 2021”
Did you win the July-August book giveaway?
If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of The Pillow Book: Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan by Sei Shōnagon! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me if you’d like an ebook or paperback (and if paperback, let me know a mailing address you’dContinueContinue reading “Did you win the July-August book giveaway?”
The REAL story of the 47 rōnin
…is so much crazier than I thought You can see why the tale of the forty-seven masterless samurai who avenge their lord appeals—righteous grudges, extreme consequences, clever & twisted revenge. It’s definitely got the makings of a killer Netflix series! But the most amazing thing is…it’s all true. Page from the 47 Ronin manga byContinueContinue reading “The REAL story of the 47 rōnin”
How to host a great sake tasting
Three is the classic number of sakes to compare and contrast, but you can go higher. Read on for some great category suggestions! Sake isn’t just for Japanese food anymore—it’s popping up in top restaurants all over the world as the perfect pairing for all kinds of cuisines. Crisp and clean, it’s delicious with everythingContinueContinue reading “How to host a great sake tasting”
A rugged paradise with famous drummers, bathtub boats, and a cave of spooky Jizo figures
Sado Island in Niigata prefecture Sado is everything a remote island should be—plummeting cliffs surrounded by crystal clear water—but you can also do some things here that you can’t do in any other part of Japan These days, Sado Island is an hour offshore by hydrofoil, but in olden times it would take a lotContinueContinue reading “A rugged paradise with famous drummers, bathtub boats, and a cave of spooky Jizo figures”
A parade of people dressed up as angry ghost cats? Yes, please!
Bakeneko Parade in Kagurazaka, Tokyo And this one is my all-time favorite—she was wearing an excellent traditional-style mask, but totally dressed in goth-princess style kimono, with all the bells and whistles Japan is host to the most delightful festivals ever, and even the supernaturally scary bakeneko have their day! This isn’t an official holiday—you won’tContinueContinue reading “A parade of people dressed up as angry ghost cats? Yes, please!”
Pachinko
By Min Jin Lee Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: This multi-generation story about what it’s like to be a Korean living in Japan from the early 1900s until the new millennium is heartwarmingly painful, beautifully written, and quite an accurate window into what it’s likeContinueContinue reading “Pachinko”
OCTOBER 2020
Click on photo or link to read the feature Why, Japan, Why?: Tiny pants, the garbage police, and the more friends you have, the lonelier you might be There are some things that nobody who moves to Japan wants to learn. But sometimes it’s these unwelcome lessons that unlock all kinds of other mysteries…read more •ContinueContinue reading “OCTOBER 2020”
The Ninth Attachment Cocktail/Mocktail
I hope you’ll laugh when you start reading The Last Tea Bowl Thief and understand what the name means! These cocktails/mocktails are built around a surprise ingredient. It’s a traditional Japanese taste that’s becoming all the rage at modern Tokyo bars: fruit-infused vinegar. These apple-ginger sours are sophisticated and satisfying, with or without the alcohol.ContinueContinue reading “The Ninth Attachment Cocktail/Mocktail”
The Tale of Murasaki
By Liza Dalby Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: If you love historical novels, this beautifully imagined tale really brings 11th century Japanese court intrigues to life You probably recognize Liza Dalby as the author of Geisha and Kimono, the highly acclaimed books that came outContinueContinue reading “The Tale of Murasaki”
Unexpected drawbacks of being a foreigner in Japan
Tiny pants, the garbage police, and the more friends you have, the lonelier you might be There are some things that nobody who moves to Japan wants to learn. But sometimes it’s these unwelcome lessons that unlock all kinds of other mysteries… Is it me, or are these pants just laughably small? The first time IContinueContinue reading “Unexpected drawbacks of being a foreigner in Japan”
Holy log-riding, the accidental castle, and a fire-breathing stone dragon
This month’s destination: Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture The reason I’m taking us on a virtual visit to Suwa City this time of year is because autumn really begins to blaze in Nagano Prefecture during the month of October, much earlier than it does in Tokyo Suwa City? Who ever heard of Suwa City? That doesn’tContinueContinue reading “Holy log-riding, the accidental castle, and a fire-breathing stone dragon“
The ten winners of August’s “It Was You” Giveaway are…
If you recognize your email, congratulations! If one of these is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it (and what name you’d like me to inscribe it to, if you’d like more than just a signature), and I’ll get it to you soonest. And by the way, a few of lastContinueContinue reading “The ten winners of August’s “It Was You” Giveaway are…”
