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...

Petite Fleur Established in 1971 Located in Kanagawa Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan, located just south of Tokyo. It’s famous for its port and is an important...

Samurai are icons of Japanese culture—inspiring movies, manga, and myths—but who were they really? Dating back to the feudal era, samurai first began as armed imperial guards, but would later...

Fuubian Established in 2009 Located in Tokyo & Fukuoka Founder of Fuubian, Hisashi Kawagoe Fuubian is one of our youngest maker partners, opening just over ten years ago. One of...

Senbei Lab Established in 1966 Located in Saitama Prefecture The Senbei Lab team. Founder Akinori Oshikubo is front, center-left. Senbei Lab captured our heart with their adventurously flavored senbei. With...

Sakata Beika Established in 1951 Located in Yamagata Prefecture Founder Eiichi Sato Sakata Beika is dedicated to creating the best snacks rice can make. Since 1951, they’ve been family owned...

Akai Ribon Established in 1978 Located in Hokkaido Akai Ribbon is located in a small city on the west edge of Hokkaido Prefecture. Since their first sweet shop opened in...

In 1954, an American food company named Swanson found its executives staring at a large problem with no easy solution ... how to sell or dispose of 260 tons of...