![]() Japanese mochi (rice cake) in soup. It is a Japanese tradition to eat mochi during the New Year. The ingredients vary from region to region. Basically, ozoni (Japanese Mochi Soup) is seasoned with soy sauce in eastern Japan, and with shiromiso (white miso) in western Japan. Ingredients (serving for 4) · Boneless chicken thigh ..................................................... 400g · Carrot, cut into thin rectangles .......................................... 100g · Shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and thinly sliced .......... 4 pcs · Leek, diagonally sliced...................................................... 8cm · Fresh spinach, boiled and cut into 2cm ............................... some · Kamaboko or naruto (fish cakes) ......................................... 4 slices · Mochi (rice cake) .............................................................. 4 blocks · Dashi soup stock .............................................................. 4 cups · Sake (Japanese rice wine) ................................................. 1 tablespoon · Soy sauce ....................................................................... 1 tablespoon How to prepare
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![]() Onigiri Cherry blossoms are designated the "national flower" of Japan. Since ancient times, it is said that the most loved flower in Japan is the cherry blossom. It has appeared in many literary works, and the cherry blossom design has been extremely popular for almost anything in Japanese life. As the proverb says, "Hana yori dango" (Better to eat sweet dumplings than to view the flowers), people enjoy eating and drinking under cherry blossom trees and have fun at O-hanami (Flower viewing). Onigiri (Rice ball) is one of the popular foods for O-hanami as it is easy to prepare. Ingredients (serving for 4)
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竹の子ご飯(たけのこごはん)![]() June is the rainy season and the long-lasting rain can be unpleasant. However, rain is important, especially in the agricultural sector. Farmers have rice planting with the rain being showers of blessing. A kind of rice planting ceremony to pray for a bountiful harvest of rice is still held in this day and age. Though the importance of rice is decreasing gradually as the Japanese diet is more influenced by the West, which means that people eat more bread, cereal or noodles than they used to, rice is still Japan's main agricultural product as well as the staple food of many Japanese people. Japanese rice comes in the short-grain variety that is starchier than Thai or Chinese long-grain rice. Ingredients (serving for 4)
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![]() Hiyayakko (Cold Tofu) When the rainy season is over, the real summer finally begins. There are many “high summer days” when the highest temperature reaches 40 degrees Centigrade or even higher, and “tropical nights” continue with early-morning low temperatures never dipping below 25. At this time, people often eat cold stuff as their appetite decreases due to the heat. Ingredients (serving for 4)
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![]() (Strawberry Parfait) There are many hot, sunny days with record-high temperatures throughout Japan in August. In the past few years, the temperature had gone up to as high as 40 degrees centigrade in some areas. Bon-odori, folk dancing, is held in many communities all over the country during O-bon (a Buddhist tradition upholding the belief that the souls of one's ancestors return to this world) from 13th -16th August. Men and women of all ages are clad in yukata (summer cotton kimono) and they dance to music in a circle around the yagura (stage). Each local prefecture has its own traditional style of bon-odori. Ingredients (serving for 4)
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![]() (Tsukimi Soba) The full moon at this time of the year is called "Chushu no Meigetsu" (the beautiful moon of mid-autumn). Since long ago, the Japanese have been enjoying O-tsukimi (viewing the most beautiful moon of the year). Ingredients (serving for 4)
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![]() Salt-grilled Sardines October is the best season for outings as the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Newly harvested rice appears at stores around this time of the year. Autumn fish such as mackerel, sardines and saury pike are also in season. Ingredients (serving for 4)
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How to prepare
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How to prepare
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Check out these interesting reads in our archives as well: |
Know Japan 2013 archive |
Know Japan 2012 archive |
Know Japan 2011 archive |
Know Japan 2010 archive |
Know Japan 2009 archive |
Japanese Recipes 2008 archive |
Japanese Customs 2007 archive |
Japanese Customs 2006 archive |
Japanese Festivals 2005 archive |