Ryo Iwa– Author –
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Beyond Ramen: Exploring Japan’s Iconic Soups and Broths
Traditional Japanese soups are everywhere in Japan. Morning, noon, and night. They appear at breakfast tables, school canteens, izakayas, and Michelin-starred restaurants alike. Ramen gets most of the international attention, understanda... -
Aomori Sake (青森地酒)
Aomori is a quiet heavyweight in the world of Japanese sake. The prefecture sits at the northern tip of Honshu. Winters bite hard and snow piles high. That harsh cold helps brewers control fermentation slowly and precisely. Combine this ... -
Shisuko Rice (シスコライス)
Have you ever wondered what Hakodate soul food actually tastes like? Most visitors picture fresh squid or morning market seafood. But locals know a different craving entirely. It is warm, filling, and a little indulgent. It is called Shi... -
Ruby Roman (ルビーロマン)
There are grapes, and then there are ルビーロマン Ruby Roman. The difference is not subtle. One is a fruit. The other is a statement. For anyone curious about Japan's culture of premium food gifts, Ruby Roman is perhaps the clearest exam... -
Hakodate Asaichi Seafood (函館朝市の海鮮)
Some mornings just stay with you. Hakodate Asaichi is one of those places that earns a permanent spot in your memory. The smell of the sea reaches you before the stalls do. Vendors call out in the early light, and somewhere behind the no... -
A Smooth Travel Experience Through Tokyo’s Food And Culture
Have you ever reached Tokyo and felt excited about food, streets, lights, and local life, all at the same time? This city has a very warm way of welcoming people. From a calm morning in a small cafe to an evening full of glowing signs an... -
What to Eat in Nara: 20 Must-Try Foods for Every Visitor
Nara is Japan's oldest culinary city. As the country's first permanent capital (710–784 AD), it was the birthplace of Buddhist vegetarian cooking, the origin of Japan's somen noodle tradition, and the place where persimmon leaf sushi was... -
Niigata Sake (新潟地酒)
Niigata sake is famous for its clean, dry, and refined flavor profile. Snowy winters, soft water, polished rice, and the Echigo Toji tradition shaped this regional sake culture. Today, Niigata Prefecture ranks among Japan’s most respecte... -
Hakodate Yakitori Bento (函館 焼き鳥弁当)
Here's a small puzzle. You order something called a yakitori bento. Yakitori means grilled chicken. You open the box, and inside you find grilled pork. Nobody apologizes. Everyone acts like this is completely normal. In Hakodate, it is. ... -
Kagoshima Black Pork (鹿児島黒豚)
Some foods earn their reputation through marketing. Others earn it through flavor. 鹿児島黒豚 Kagoshima black pork belongs firmly in the second category. One bite of a properly cooked cutlet or a thin slice dipped in shabu-shabu broth, a...