Category: Food & Drink

A mother and a daughter laughing at a bar in the spirit of Mother's Day and gift baskets for Mom.

Gift Baskets for Mom: Best Traditional Japanese Edition!

When making gift baskets for Mom, especially on Mother’s Day, common gifts include fruit baskets, a day brunch, and even a home spa day! But if your special someone wants a unique gift this May, why not give her a traditional Japanese gift?

What is shiso, it is a bunch of dark green leaves.

What is Shiso: Japanese Best Traditional Herb!

Although the shiso or perilla leaf originated in China, it has grown wild in Japan since ancient times. Shiso was widely known as a medical herb in China, but it is a traditional herb primarily used in cooking in Japan!

A kokeshi doll dressed in an elaborate kimono in celebration of Girls Day.

Girls Day: The Best Hinamatsuri Treats!

Although people celebrate Christmas and New Year’s worldwide, Japan has certain unique national holidays. You may have heard of Hinamatsuri, often known as the “Doll Festival,” which is a particular occasion for young girls.

A plate of fortune cookies.

Fortune Cookies: They’re Japan’s Best-Kept Secret!

Fortune cookies’ history isn’t what many people think it is, even though they are a staple of Chinese-American food. When it was first made in Kyoto, Japan, in the 1800s, the fortune cookie was called something else.