What Is Obon? Bon (盆), or Obon (お盆) is a midsummer festival not unlike Mexico’s Day of the Dead. According to Buddhist belief, ancestors’ spirits are believed to come back…
Category: FOOD
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Natto, Japan’s Superfood
納豆 na ・ tto Lots of Japanese health foods are trending around the world, from kombucha (in Japan, called “koucha kinoko” (紅茶キノコ) or mushroom tea) to green tea to tofu.…
Beat The Heat With Amazake, Japan’s Natural Energy Drink
甘酒 “Ama-sake.”Sweet alcohol.Refreshing and smooth, the secret to beating the summer heat. In this article, I want to tell you about Japan’s traditional rice beverage and natural energy drink, amazake! Please note…
Chado: The Japanese Tea Ceremony
Ichii-go, ichi-e. This time we spend together may be the first and last, so let us treasure it. What do you think of when you think of “wa?”Maybe “washoku” Japanese food,…
Tanabata–the Festival of Stars
What Is Tanabata? (Published July 2020, updated July 2021) Tanabata (七夕), literally meaning “seven evenings,” is the Festival of Stars in Japan. This is a celebration of the once-a-year reunion…