Wagashi: What is Jouyo Manju?
Manju (饅頭) is a representative type of Wagashi (和菓子) (Japanese confection) typically consisting of Anko (餡子) sweetened Azuki red bean paste wrapped in a wheat flour dough. It is a steamed bun that comes in...
Category: Snacks
Hotate Hoshi Kaibashira: Dried Scallop Adductor Muscles
Chinmi (珍味: literally, rare taste) is the Japanese word for food delicacy in English, and what I introduce here, Hotate Hoshi Kaibashira (ホタテ干し貝柱), comes under the heading of Japanese Chinmi. Hotate Hoshi Kaibashira (ホタテ干し貝柱)...
Green Mame: Kasugai’s Classic Deep-Fried Pea Snack
Kasugai Seika (春日井製菓) is a Japanese confectionery company known for having good old snacks, which include the Shio Ame salt candy and Kuro Ame brown sugar candy. In addition to them, I sometimes crave their Green...
Kotsubukko: Sweet & Small Fried Rice Crackers from Kameda
The prefecture where I live, Niigata (新潟), is Japan’s largest producer of rice, and its specialties include Sake (酒) and Senbei (煎餅). Here, there are several nationally famous rice cracker manufacturers, and Kameda Seika (亀田製菓) is...
Kit Kat Mini Japan-Limited Sakura Mochi Flavor
The Sakura (桜) cherry blossom season is just around the corner. But unfortunately, yesterday’s online news reported the Tokyo Metropolitan Government asked people to refrain from Hanami parties this year due to the coronavirus...
Kabukiage: Amanoya’s Best-Selling Rice Cracker
Kabuki (歌舞伎) is one of the traditional performing arts representing Japan, whose origin can be traced back to 1603. It is a classical Japanese dance-drama designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan since...
Tanshio vs. Gyutan: What’s the Difference?
Our family sometimes goes to a Yakiniku restaurant in our neighborhood for dinner. Every time we dine there, I order the meat portion Tan-Shio (たん塩/タン塩: meaning Tongue Salt or Salted Tongue) at least once....
Kankoku Nori vs. Nihon Nori: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to Nori (海苔), the first thing that comes to many people’s minds will probably be a blackish dry sheet of seaweed used in sushi rolls. Including the one for sushi, the...
