Food & Drink– category –

Are you a cat lover? What about a coffee drinker? Believe it or not, these two things can be combined! Originating from Taiwan, Cat Cafes have grown rapidly in popularity throughout Japan. This idea has been expanded overseas to other countries like the United States!

Originating from the 1980s in Taiwan, this drink was picked up by the Japanese in the 1990s and still popular ever since! With the fun colors of the drink, unique sipping experience, and sweet taste - it’s no wonder that the bubble tea craze has spread all over the world!

The Japanese tradition cooking device Teppanyaki has developed into what Americans call hibachi. The entertainment of americanized-hibachi restaurants are a plus to the fantastic food!

Mochi muffins, mochi brownies, mochi donuts, mochi EVERYTHING! At Third Culture Bakery, Chef Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu use their upbringing as Third Culture kids, meaning they grew up in a different cultrue than their parents- as inspiration for their delicious baked goods.

Typically we don’t think of sushi as fast food, but if you place it on a conveyor belt in Japan, it becomes it! “kaiten -zushi” in Japanese translates to “rotating sushi,” and was invented so customers could be served quicker without the use of servers.

Everyone knows matcha for its delicious taste, but did you know that consuming matcha has other benefits as well? There are many ways to reap the amazing benefits of matcha- here are three fun ways you can use matcha!

If you’ve been to a hole in the wall Japanese restaurant in the United States it’s likely that you’ve seen someone do a sake bomb. The way that Americans consume their sake is much different than how it is enjoyed in Japan.

Trader Joe’s is a fantastic place that offers a variety of goods inspired from countries all over the world! Here are some Japanese- inspired products you can find at your local Trader Joe’s.

Japan has a wide variety of alcoholic beverages- from liquors to wine to beers. Many social events, business exchanges, and traditions involved alcoholic beverages. Here are five alcoholic beverages found in Japan and commonly drunk.

Traditional Japanese sweets are known as “wagashi.” Over time, people have taken wagashi to the next level of creativity, making exquisite works of art. Here are some examples of wagashi.

While Sushi may be considered a well-recieved Japanese import, once it made its way into the United States, there have definitely been changes made. Here are five sushi rolls that are Americanized and not traditional to Japan.

Pickles are an indispensable food in Kyoto. Since there is no sea in the vicinity of Kyoto, preservation techniques for food have been developed since ancient times. Here are the three major pickles in Kyoto!

Japan is said to be the world's number one vending machine country. While the latest vending machines, such as those operated by panels, stand out, slightly different vending machines are also appearing one after another.

There are many types of fermented foods in the world, but Japan leads the way when it comes to fermented variety! There are over 3,000 pickle varieties in Japan alone. Japan is an excellent place for fermentation because of its favorable...

As Spring approaches, we still have a few snowy, cold days left to get through. The best thing on a chilly day is a steaming hot drink, warming your hands and your body as you sip. Japan has some of the tastiest coffee and tea beverages,...

As a special project, we asked five chefs working in the US to create new dishes using selected Japanese foods (see the link below).　The food items used by the chefs are available for purchase in The Japan Media Store. (Price may change...

Creamy-cold ice cream encased in a sweet mochi dough makes the perfect hand-held treat. Eating mochi is a fun experience, especially for many Americans who are foreign to the idea of holding ice cream!

Toshikoshi-Soba is one of unique and traditional customs for New Year’s Eve in Japan. This soba is made with buckwheat noodles, hot dashi broth and a variety of toppings. This simple soba noodle soup symbolizes cutting off any hardships ...

Here are the ultimate best 3 products of “Soy Sauce, Miso, and Dashi“, we recommend as the essential Japanese food ingredients. Some people think Japanese cooking is so difficult and never been easy. It’s easier than you think.  Fir...

Lunch boxes in Japan are a little different from those in other countries. When making lunchboxes for children, the use of characters and other Kawaii items is used to make children happy.