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Kinpira is the name of a character in a traditional Japanese puppet theatre play dating back to the 1600s. Kinpira, the son of the character Kintaro who was well-known …

Chawan is the word for teacup, and mushi means steamed, so this is a Japanese recipe for steamed teacups! It’s an egg-based, custardy type of …

Hiya means cool, and yakko once referred to samurai’s servants during the Edo period. They wore a square-shaped crest measuring three by three centimetres, so when tofu was …

This Japanese recipe calls for root vegetables such as lotus root, daikon and carrot. Lotus root is a good source of dietary fibre as well …

Spring has a very strong atmosphere of renewal in Japan. Everywhere you look, there are signs of new beginnings, from the parks full of cherry …

Hijiki is a nutritional powerhouse, replete with fibre and a variety of essential minerals. It is sold in dried form, and when soaked in water …

Shiitake mushrooms are rich in glutamate, an amino acid responsible for umami, the 5th taste sensation (after sweet, sour, bitter and salty). The texture of …

This dish is a type of tsukemono, or “pickled thing”. What’s special about this Japanese recipe is the way the cucumbers are cut. You score one …

This Japanese recipe is a typical osouzai, or everyday side dish – it’s quick, easy, yummy, and goes well with rice! If you can’t find the …

Tamagoyaki, literally meaning ‘cooked egg’, is a dish in which thin layers of egg crepe are rolled into a log. Although it is thought of …

Nanohana is a variety of edible rapeseed plant, grown in Asia both for its oil and as a vegetable. It is in season in Japan from …

Satsuma-age is a fried patty of fish originating from Kagoshima, an area of Japan once known as Satsuma, hence the name. In Kagoshima, it is referred …