Sake, Japan’s iconic rice-based alcoholic drink, has been central to Japanese culture for over 1,300 years. Traditionally made with rice, water and kōji mould, it was consumed in early brewpubs and was vital to samurai rituals and festivals. Sake’s story includes homebrewers like clan matriarchs, ancient princes and modern political activists who defied laws to keep homebrewing alive. Temples refined sake-making techniques, laying the foundation for a thriving industry that became a major ...

Sushi and sashimi are by now global sensations and have become perhaps the best-known of Japanese foods, but they are also the most widely misunderstood. Oishii: The History of Sushi reveals that sushi began as a fermented food with a sour taste, used as a means to preserve fish. This book, the first history of sushi in English, traces sushi’s development from China to Japan and then internationally, and its evolution from street food to high-class cuisine. Included are historical...

In 2013 ‘traditional Japanese dietary culture’ (washoku) was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Washoku’s predecessor was ‘national people’s cuisine’, an attempt during the Second World War to create a uniform diet for all citizens. Japan’s Cuisines reveals the diversity of Japanese cuisine and explains how Japan’s modern food culture arose through the direction of private and public institutions. Readers will discover how tea came to be portrayed as the...

An accessible compendium of the most important aspects of Japanese arts, culture and history, for quick reference or a longer, in-depth read, for actual and armchair travelers alike..This friendly guide offers concise but detailed demystifications of more than 85 aspects of ancient and modern Japan.It can be read in sequence, or just dipped into, depending on the moment’s need. Explanations go much deeper than a typical travel guide and cover 1,500 years of...

Here are the raw facts about sushi, from history and etiquette to tips and recipes. Become a satisfied customer and an inspired sushi chef with this ultimate guide! A great book for any sushi lover!

A fascinating exploration of all things Japan, including the country's history, culture, customs, and cuisine.Whether it's perfecting the art of forest-bathing— shinrin-yoku—or celebrating imperfections in kintsugi, Japanesse customs have been thriving for centuries alongside modern practices of well-being.In How to Live Japanese, Yutaka Yazawa provides the ultimate insider's guide to the country, full of inspiration and insight to ...

A New York Times bestseller, turn to the hidden curiosities of food, which becomes a gateway to fascinating stories about human history, science, art, and tradition—all organized by country, lavishly illustrated, and full of surprises.Created by the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura, this breathtaking guide transforms our sense of what people around the world eat and drink. Covering all seven continents, Gastro Obscura serves up a loaded plate of inc...

A Japanese-inspired guide to living a happier, more fulfilled life.Japonisme explores the Japanese art of finding contentment and includes practical tips and tricks to live a happier, healthier, more thoughtful life.What is your ikigai (purpose)? How do you practice mindfulness in the unpredictability and chaos of everyday life? From shinrinyoku (forest bathing), calligraphy, ikebana (flower arranging) to tea ceremonies and their approach to food, the Japanese have...

"Japanese Culture & Cuisine" contains information about the food and culture of Japan, including a brief history, common food, mealtime and dining, sushi, rice variations, eating with chopsticks, table settings and etiquette, tea, sake, Japanese snacks, authentic recipes, food terms, words and phrases, and resources for further study. "Japanese Culture & Cuisine" is Book #27 in Food Fare's Culinary Collection. Recipes in "Japanese Culture & Cuisine" are also freely available at the Food Fa...

The Sake Handbook is the foremost guide to the history, brewing, and distinctive flavors of sake.Just what are jizake, namazake and ginjoshu? The Sake Handbook answers all these questions and many more about sake wine, and will help you enjoy Japan's national beverage in style.Author John Gauntner is recognized as the world's leading non-Japanese sake expert. A longtime Japan resident, he is well known among sake brewers ...

From the author of The Almost Nearly Perfect People comes Super Sushi Ramen Express, a fascinating and funny culinary journey through JapanJapan is arguably the preeminent food nation on earth; it's a mecca for the world's greatest chefs and has more Michelin stars than any other country. The Japanese go to extraordinary lengths and expense to eat food that is marked both by its exquisite preparation and exotic content. Their creativity, dedication...

Written by local expert Sumiko Kajiyama, Cool Japan is a three-part travel guide that explores the heart of Japanese culture and must-see places from a uniquely Japanese perspective. First, visit Kyoto, where you will discover 1,000 years of history from the ancient love story the Tale of Genji to the traditional tea ceremony. Then head to Tokyo to experience Japan's cutting-edge capital, where the 21st-century kawaii culture collides with landmarks like the Kabuki-za Theater and ...