In Japan, people often cook with fresh, in-season ingredients. During the cold month of December, hakusai (nappa cabbage), kabu (turnips) and daikon radishes are the perfect accompaniments to many hearty and warming dishes.
Culture, Food Traditions, Seasonal, Winter
12 Months of Japanese Holidays: December’s Toji, Christmas Eve and Omisoka
In Japan, December means three major holidays: the winter solstice celebration, known as Toji; Christmas Eve; and Omisoka, the New Year's Eve purity rites, which take place in both the shrine and the home.
Kids in kimonos? Don't be surprised if you see Japanese boys and girls all dolled up come November. It's the time of year for shichi-go-san, a traditional aging ceremony held for children of specific ages.
The month of November is when apples and spinach are both in season. There are a number of ways to utilize these ingredients in Japanese cuisine. And cooking fresh Japanese meals with these ingredients yields a lot of health benefits and flavor.
Japanese Worldwide Travel goes to Sao Paulo and San Francisco this autumn with delicious fusion styles that will rock your taste buds.
Sweet potatoes and enoki mushrooms are both in season in October in Japan, and will be featured in many Japanese dishes during this time. These vibrant ingredients are also very healthy, and will make a good addition to your regular diet.
Typically held on the second Monday of October, Sports Day is a national Japanese holiday known for athletics and, surprisingly, food. Despite the event’s namesake physical activity, the bento box lunches are often where the real competition lies.
In the month of September, both shiitake mushrooms and eggplant are in season. In Japan, where many dishes feature fresh, in-season ingredients, you can expect to see a wide variety of dishes containing these flavorful and healthy ingredients.
Autumn, Culture, Food Traditions, Seasonal
12 Months of Japanese Holidays: September’s Jyugoya and Keiro No Hi
If there's one thing to be said about Japanese holidays, it's that they're all about reverence. September’s fêtes, Jyugoya and Keiro No Hi, demonstrate this, paying homage to the moon and the elderly, respectively, with fun and food.
Culture, Food Traditions, Seasonal, Summer
12 Months of Japanese Holidays: August’s Hassaku No Iwai and Obon
One of Japan's three major holiday seasons, August features two important cultural traditions: Hassaku No Iwai and Obon. The former is born from agricultural heritage, and the latter, Buddhist rituals.
