Japanese cooking, traced back to Japanese sources.
English-language Japanese recipes drift from the originals in predictable ways: a substitute becomes the recipe, a technique gets sold as a bottled sauce, one region’s kitchen stands in for the whole country. We go back to Japanese dictionaries, government guides, and Japanese makers’ own recipes to explain what the original actually is, and why the English version turned out the way it did.
Latest articles
Lost in Translation"Yellowtail" Isn't One FishIn Japan one fish, buri, changes names as it grows and by region. In the US, several fish share the name amberjack. Hamachi, buri and kanpachi explained.
How Japan EatsFlipping Your Chopsticks for Shared Dishes: Polite Abroad, Frowned On in Japan?English guides say to flip your chopsticks for shared plates. Japanese etiquette guides call that sakasa-bashi and say to use serving chopsticks instead.
How Japan EatsWhy Japanese Green Tea Has No Sugar, but Matcha Can Be SweetIn Japan, brewed green tea isn't sweetened, but matcha can be sweet or plain. Where the line falls, how sweet matcha got its start, and how Japan brews sencha.
Crossed BordersKatsu Curry in Britain, Philadelphia Rolls in America: "Japanese" Dishes Born AbroadKatsu curry, Philadelphia rolls, spicy mayo, sriracha, sushi burritos and Spam musubi: what's known about where each took shape, and what the words mean in Japan.
Crossed BordersYōshoku and Chūka: Japan's Own "Western" and "Chinese" FoodOmurice, napolitan, doria, ramen and tenshinhan grew up in Japan. What yōshoku and chūka mean, and who claims each dish, with sources.
Safety & LabelsWhy Japanese Tofu Expires So Fast: Japan's Two Date Labels vs. US DatesJapan prints a safety date (shōhi kigen) or a quality date (shōmi kigen). US federal rules require one only on infant formula. What it means for tofu and eggs.
Series
- Lost in Translation10What English-language Japanese recipes get wrong, checked against Japanese sources.
- Japanese Pantry, American Store10Japanese ingredients and seasonings, and what to buy in a US store.
- How Japan Eats3How dishes are eaten in Japan, and what Japanese cooks usually don't do.
- Japan Isn't One Kitchen3Regional and household differences, and where one dish ends and another begins.
- Crossed Borders5Dishes that changed as they moved between Japan and the rest of the world.
- Safety & Labels8Raw food, food safety rules and food labels in Japan and the US.
- Make It at Home4Japanese favorites to make at home, adapted from Japanese recipes.