wa’z Every month, wa’z owner and head chef Hiro Tawara assembles a menu that puts seasonal local and Japanese ingredients front and center. He takes great care to make sure his diners sense the seasonality of each dish. He also ties his menu closely to Japanese traditional events. The result is a memorable meal of Japanese haute cuisine thoughtfully presented in kaiseki fashion. This...
Ginza, one of Tokyo’s most famous neighborhoods, was originally a name given to a silver coinage mint of the Shogunate in the Edo Era (1603–1868). “Gin” means silver and “Za” means a group of merchants. Shortly after the huge Ginza Fire of 1872 burned down the area, the Japanese government appointed an English architect to re-design the town. Ginza was Westernized and reborn as...
A Mouthwatering Summer Reading List Before you head to the beach, make sure you have a good book to bring with you. Here are a few food-related suggestions we found on the shelves of our local Kinokuniya bookstore. Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy Jiro Ono is arguably the most famous sushi chef on the face of the planet. The stern taskmaster and unparalleled sushi maestro was...
Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture Ukiyo-e is one of the best-known genres of Japanese painting, established in the 17th and 18th centuries. That was the Edo Era, when much of what the West loves about Japan–woodblock prints, sushi, Kabuki, manga, and much more–flourished. The word “ukiyo” originally meant “modern” and “sensual.” The themes of the paintings tended to reflect the manners, customs,...
If you like to cook and are curious about Japan’s spices and flavors, here’s a guide to a few basic ingredients that can give your dishes a distinct Japanese flair. All the products mentioned here can be bought at Uwajimaya supermarkets. Also, the Uwajimaya website has helpful definitions of Japanese ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes here: https://www.uwajimaya.com/uwajipedia Dashi This is the very essence of Japanese...
The Joys of Kanazawa Ishikawa Prefecture hugs the Japan Sea. As you head inland, the coast gives way to snow-capped mountains, underneath which hot springs waters roil. And in the middle of the Prefecture sits one of Japan’s most attractive cities: Kanazawa. The city prospered during the Edo Era (1603-1868) as the capital of the Maeda clan’s domain. The Maeda daimyo’s domain was the...
On any given evening, a mix of young, old, first-timers, and regulars head to Miyabi Sushi just south of the mall in Southcenter to grab a seat at the sushi counter or a table in the dining room and enjoy dinner with co-owners Executive Chef Masa Ishikura, Hisako Ishikura, and former Major League pitcher Masao Kida. Miyabi buzzes with activity, so be sure to...
Ready to try anko confectioneries? Your local Uwajimaya grocery store carries many options to choose from. Here are our recommendations. Daifuku This is perfect for those who are curious about daifuku after reading about it in Origami! Daifuku comes in several kinds such as simple shiro (white), sesame, mame (bean), etc. We suggest you try the shiro daifuku first to see if you like...
If you can’t make it to Japan but are jonesing for some Japanese sweets, don’t fret. Seattle has more and more options to choose from these days. We’ve got traditional Japanese confectioneries made with a delicate aroma and taste of green tea, sweets with anko, cake made out of numerous layered handmade crêpes, and newly released matcha chocolate bars. Here are the places ready...
Ever wonder what your beloved pet’s name would look like in Chinese characters, or kanji? We pick one pet photo and render the pet’s name in kanji. Barjols Betty in Seattle Betty is a 2-year-old Brindle French Bulldog. She’s never late for a meal; adores people, even strangers; and loves car rides in her basket. Her best animal friend is a horse named Leilani....
