What Does Kakigori Mean? Ah, kakigori, Japanese shaved ice of many colors. So, what is it, exactly? In a nutshell: a little mountain of fine shavings light as fresh snow,...

The Japanese Legend of Momotarō, Peach Boy Japanese peaches are literally the stuff of legends. Momotarō, loosely translated as Peach Boy, is a folktale that goes back at least four...

It’s often said that chocolate’s popularity in Japan stems from American soldiers handing out chocolate bars to Japanese children after World War Two, but did you know that Japan’s first...

What is a Mikoshi in Japanese Culture? Have you ever seen a picture of an ornate carriage with royalty or royal cargo inside that is transported on people’s shoulders? Many...

What are Tanuki? The tanuki is an animal known as a racoon dog that is native to Japan. It has thick fur, a bushy tail, a mask of white around...

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a 1989 Studio Ghibli animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is about a teenager named Kiki who is living alone for the first time while...

The Amaou strawberry is a very special type of strawberry grown in the Fukuoka prefecture of Japan. Its name is an acronym derived from the best attributes of the fruit,...

Around this time of year, many people visit Kyoto to see autumn foliage. So let us take you to Kyoto with us right at this moment: We’re going to visit...

These are yearly events of November in Japan. Although unfortunately the public events will not be taking place this year, we still wanted to share them with you for your...

Matcha is one of the oldest forms of tea in Japan which is made by finely grinding green tea leaves. During the growing process, shading matcha leaves increases chlorophyll and...

There are a lot of differences between Japanese and American cuisine, and snacks are no exception. While some snacks may be found in both countries, even those shared snacks are...

Mochi is Japanese sticky rice cake that is chewy and delicious! There are so many different ways to eat mochi in Japan. There are savory mochi such as ozoni and...