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Exploring Osaka's Kitchen with Japanese Food Curator, Yoko – Kokoro Care
We're excited to share that we've partnered with the wonderful team over at The Table Less Traveled to bring you this immersive blog post exploring Osaka's culinary scene! The Table Less Traveled designs transformative travel experiences that encourage deeper connections with the flavors, cultures, and communities of t
7 Unique Eats to Try When Visiting Nagoya – Kokoro Care
The fourth largest city in Japan, one of the country’s industrial powerhouses, and home to the main manufacturer of Toyota, the often-overlooked city of Nagoya is a hub of business, culture, and food. Located in Aichi Prefecture, just between Tokyo and Osaka, it is known for its hardworking culture, making it home to
Mukimono and Kazarigiri: The Delicate Art of Decorative Food Cutting – Kokoro Care
In traditional Japanese cuisine, it feels like there is an art for nearly everything. From how ingredients are prepared to their final plating, elegance and skill are present in every step. In finer forms of cuisine like kaiseki ryori, presentation is just as important as the food itself. One of the most visually str
Shop the Shelves: Sensational Salad Dressings – Kokoro Care
Browsing the aisles of a Japanese grocery store for the first time can bring you into a world of wonder. With eye-catching packaging holding an array of mysterious products, it’s easy to get swept up in the simple thrill of grocery shopping. One of the most unexpectedly exciting aisles to wander down is the salad dre
Goya: Bitter Melon – Kokoro Care
One of the many foods associated with longevity and health in Japanese cuisine, or more specifically Okinawan cuisine, is goya or bitter melon. Although it is often referred to as a ‘gourd’ or a ‘melon,’ it more closely resembles a lumpy, prickly cucumber, and is, in fact, a fruit, not a vegetable. Despite its strang
Japan's Growing Alternative Protein Scene – Kokoro Care
In recent years, Japan has seen unprecedented growth in the alternative protein scene. The 2020 Olympics provided a big push for the market, as Japan prepared to cater to a variety of diets. But how has this trend been progressing since, and is there space for this new type of product? Traditional Japanese cuisine, w
Yoshoku: Western Favorites With Japanese Flavors – Kokoro Care
What if I told you that in Japan there are two main categories of food: washoku and yoshoku? What if I also told you that one of those categories includes things like spaghetti, hamburgers, and curry? That’s because washoku means “Japanese food” and yoshoku means “Western food.” Before you get the wrong impression,
Canned Coffee in Japan: From Innovation to Cultural Icon – Kokoro Care
Anyone who has traveled to Japan has at least one story about an interaction with a vending machine and all of the brightly colored canned coffee drinks in it. This convenient beverage, available in vending machines on nearly every street corner, is not only a quick caffeine fix but a reflection of Japanese innovatio
Chuka Ryori: Chinese Flavors Inspiring Some of Japan’s Most Iconic Foo – Kokoro Care
Captivating countries across the globe, Chinese food has been adapted to suit many tastes. In the United States, fan favorites include sticky sweet orange chicken and wafer-thin fortune cookies. In the UK chips smothered in curry sauce and brimming bags of prawn crackers are take-away staples. You may be surprised, h
Gift Fruit Culture: The Story Behind Japan’s Luxury Produce – Kokoro Care
Strolling through almost any grocery store in Japan you are apt to find an incredible selection of produce. From seasonal fruits and vegetables to staple ingredients, they have it all. But what might stand out to you is the shelves of carefully wrapped and packaged fruits with astonishing price tags. Rows of glisteni
Isshou Mochi: The First Birthday Burden – Kokoro Care
Every culture has unique birthday traditions, with those celebrating the first year of life tending to be the most elaborate in correspondence to its importance. In Japan, where certain points in life hold great significance, first birthday traditions are said to set the tone for the child’s life ahead and give the fam
Wanko Soba: The Never-Ending Noodle Challenge – Kokoro Care
Japan is replete with affordable all-you-can-eat restaurants and zany food challenges–and the cities of Hanamaki and Morioka in Iwate Prefecture are no exception. While Iwate is known for its traditional ironware, ceramic handicrafts, and splendid ski slopes, it is also known for its noodles. Here you can enjoy wanko s
Katsuobushi: Fermented Fish Flavoring Japan's Favorite Foods – Kokoro Care
Japanese cuisine is full of fermented ingredients, from soy sauce and miso to pickles and sake. Preserving foods through fermentation is a centuries-old tradition that continues to this day. These fermented foods help to season and bring umami-rich flavors to dishes that otherwise lack those strong flavors. One of th
Umeshu: Japan's Sweet Plum Wine – Kokoro Care
Japan has a long history of fermentation, from miso to soy sauce, natto to tsukemono. But fermented things aren’t always something that we can eat! Rather, they can be something that we drink! As such, another category of products brought to us by Japan’s rich history of working with the beautiful relationship between
Itameshi: Iconic Italian Food with a Japanese Twist - Kokoro Care Packages
Like much of the world, Japan has a fascination with Europe—particularly Italy. Walking the streets of Meguro City in Tokyo, you can even wander into La Vita, a shopping district modeled after Venice complete with arching bridges and gondolas floating in the waterways. But what Japan has embraced most about Italy is it
Senbero: Sip and Snack the Night Away for Just 1,000 Yen! - Kokoro Care Packages
On the hunt for cheap eats and drinks in Japan? Look no further than the senbero at your local izakaya. Senbero is a portmanteau of two Japanese words, "sen" and "berobero." "Sen" means one thousand, referring to the price tag of the experience—only a thousand yen per person, which is just over $7 USD at the current ex
Mugicha: Japanese Barley Tea - Kokoro Care Packages
It is well known that tea is a major part of Japanese food culture. From snacks and drinks to candies and desserts, there are many tea varieties and preparations, ranging from the popular matcha to the lesser-known genmaicha (roasted brown rice tea). And while the type and preparation of tea is usually determined by th
Kabocha vs. Pumpkin - Kokoro Care Packages
With the spooky season just behind us and the pumpkin spice season in full swing, most of us are probably surrounded by pumpkins in one way or another. In Japan, the pumpkin spice craze doesn’t quite take over the country the same way it does in America each Fall, but there is a similar seasonal treat that takes its pl
The Art of Go-Ho: Japan's Five Quintessential Cooking Techniques - Kokoro Care Packages
In every cuisine, there are unique approaches to cooking and methods specific to that culture. They define the style of a cuisine and affect everything from the ingredients used to the philosophy behind certain meals. In Japan, there are five defining techniques or methods of preparing food, known as the Go-ho; "go" me
Food From Netflix's The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (Episode - Kokoro Care Packages
Episode 4 of The Makanai, “Wish”, is a character-heavy episode with less emphasis on cooking and a larger focus on the forces that drive the hearts of the characters. And while their hearts may yearn silently, Kiyo continues to help them express their emotions through her resonant cooking. There are a few throwbacks to
Food From Netflix's The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House (Episode - Kokoro Care Packages
Episode 3 of Makanai titled "Taboo" immerses viewers in a culinary journey filled with tantalizing dishes prepared by Kiyo across all times of the day. The episode opens with Kiyo preparing breakfast step-by-step. As with many Japanese dishes, the key is layering flavors and adding depth and balance. Kiyo starts by si
RECIPE: Kawara Udon - Kokoro Care Packages
Kawara soba is a specialty of Yamaguchi Prefecture, where legend says it was first made by soldiers who cooked it over a campfire on a roof tile during the Southwest War in 1877. This recipe has been adjusted to use a frying pan and delightfully chewy green tea udon noodles instead of soba. The refreshing taste of the
Fuyu vs. Hachiya Persimmons - Kokoro Care Packages
While many Americans may not be as familiar with this orange, tomato-like fruit, the persimmon, or kaki, is one of Japan’s favorite seasonal fall treats. Returning to supermarkets as early as September, persimmon season typically runs from October to late December, with the majority of the fruit harvested in October o
Ozoni: Mochi Soup for a Soup-er Luck in the New Year - Kokoro Care Packages
Every culture has its own special foods prepared to usher in luck for the coming year. In the American South, black-eyed peas are a staple. In Spain, people eat grapes at the stroke of midnight. And in Japan, ozoni is a traditional dish eaten for breakfast on New Year’s Day. Ozoni is a type of mochi soup typically acco
Kinako Chronicles: A Tale of Soybeans and Sweets - Kokoro Care Packages
Of the many ingredients used in wagashi, Japanese sweets, one of the most indispensable is kinako. Whether used as a topping, binder, or toasty addition to ice creams and drinks, kinako’s place in Japanese cuisine proves its versatility in the kitchen. Made from dried, milled, and toasted soybean flour, kinako has a go
Momiji Manju: A Taste of Japanese Autumn - Kokoro Care Packages
When many travelers I know visit Japan, they tend to plan a spring trip to enjoy the brief (and sometimes unpredictable) sakura and ume blossom season. While that’s among the prettiest times of year to visit, fall in Japan has its own unique beauty to be experienced. As summer begins to wind down and the first chills o
The History of Tempura - Kokoro Care Packages
Tempura is one of Japan’s most iconic foods. It appears in traditional dishes served at high-end Michelin-star restaurants, as well as some of the most popular American-style Japanese food (I’m thinking of you dragon rolls and spider rolls!) With that iconic status, it may or may not come as a surprise that this belove
Oyaki: Nutrition-Packed and Vegetarian-Friendly Dumpling Delights - Kokoro Care Packages
If you're a vegetarian traveling in Japan, you probably know that sometimes it can be quite a task to find suitable food. Most Japanese dishes contain animal products in one way or another, with dashi, a fish-based stock, being integral to much of Japanese cooking. For those looking for veggie-packed meals, despair no
Daigaku Imo: A Sweet Potato with a Degree in Deliciousness - Kokoro Care Packages
Japan is known for being a country that truly appreciates the changing of seasons. With picnics under the cherry blossoms in the spring and foliage treks in the fall, the country is acutely aware of each season's transition. The same sense of appreciation extends to seasonal ingredients. With dropping temperatures and
Street Sweets: Japan's Yakiimo (Sweet Potato) Trucks - Kokoro Care Packages
As the days grow shorter, and the autumn chill begins to give way to the cold of winter, the colors of Fall start their gradual decline across the hills and mountains of Japan. A once familiar sound has grown less familiar as years have gone by: the call of the yakiimo truck. Once a staple as present as ice cream truck
Guide to Japanese Mushrooms - Kokoro Care Packages
Japanese mushrooms have been gaining widespread attention for their health benefits and their potential as meat substitutes in plant-based diets. Japan boasts a rich variety of mushrooms and a long-running foraging culture that dates back centuries. As such, fungi play a crucial role in Japanese cuisine, serving as a s
Nuts about Jimami Tofu: The Low Down on Okinawa’s Unique Tofu - Kokoro Care Packages
When I first stumbled across jimami tofu early on in my time in Japan, I mistook it for yet another version of Japan’s beloved flan-like dish, purin. Stumped by its jiggly smooth texture, I poured on the brown sauce that accompanied it assuming it was some sort of caramel, only to be met with the familiar taste of soy
Acerola: A Little Fruit That Packs a Big Punch - Kokoro Care Packages
Acerola, a small cherry-like fruit with a sweet and tart taste, has become a beloved flavor in the southern prefecture of Okinawa, Japan. Although it goes by many other names such as Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry, and wild crepe myrtle, the fruit is known as acerola in Okinawa and can be found not only in a varie
Ramune: Japan's Iconic Marble Soda - Kokoro Care Packages
If you are familiar with Japanese candy and sweets, there is a good chance you've heard of ramune. And if you've happened to visit Japan during the summer, you've likely heard the tell-tale sound of ramune being consumed. So, what exactly is this iconic summer beverage, and what has contributed to its widespread popula
Bamboo Shoots in Japanese Cooking: Takenoko vs. Menma - Kokoro Care Packages
Cherry blossoms aren’t the only plant associated with springtime in Japan. Around the same time that sakura trees begin sprouting their pink flowers, young bamboo shoots begin sprouting from the ground. Bamboo shoot, known as takenoko (literally “bamboo’s child”), is a central ingredient in many Japanese springtime dis
All about Castella – Nagasaki’s Traditional Cake with European Influen - Kokoro Care Packages
“You must try castella!” This was the first greeting I received during my visit to Nagasaki. Initially, I was confused because the name castella or kasutera (カステラ) doesn’t sound Japanese, but when I learned that it refers to Nagasaki’s specialty sponge cake, I was curious – just how good can a cake taste? Introduction
Amendoro “Honey” - A Sweet Potato Syrup with a Healthy Kick - Kokoro Care Packages
Amendoro is a sweet potato syrup that originates from the Satsuma Peninsula in southwestern Japan. The Satsuma Peninsula is also known as the home of sweet potato cultivation in Japan. The Japanese word for sweet potato, “satsuma-imo” or “satsuma potato”, reflects this history. Amendoro derives its name from the word
More than a fabric dye: Japanese Indigo and its benefits and uses - Kokoro Care Packages
Most commonly recognized for its beautiful, distinct blue coloring, indigo has many uses beyond a dye for fabric. In Japan, indigo has been used as "medicinal herb" for a centuries. Here are some not so common uses for indigo. Some of them may surprise you!
The History of Pocky : A Snack with a Snap - Kokoro Care Packages
When it comes to Japanese sweets, there are few that are more immediately recognizable than Pocky. Delicate biscuit cookies covered in sweet chocolate and sold in iconic flip-top boxes, Pocky can be found in every Japanese supermarket and convenience store. Further, almost every store selling Japanese imported goods ar
Mozuku Seaweed: The Secret Ingredient of the World’s Longest-Living Pe - Kokoro Care Packages
Unique to the warm waters off the coast of the Okinawa region, mozuku is a regional variety of seaweed that has been farmed on an industrial scale for over 35 years. Okinawan mozuku grows on coral reefs and is nicknamed a “sea cloud” because of its slow, wavering movement on the sea. Recent advancements in aquaculture