We see the word “wagyu” bandied about these days on menus and grocery store labels, but what does the term mean? In Japanese, the word is used to define four distinct breeds of beef that have been raised for the last 200 years or so. The beef quality continues to improve as cattle ranchers improve the care and diet the cows receive. The four...
The Ninja Museum If you want to know more about ninjas, take a trip to the Ninja Museum in Igaryu, Mie Prefecture. The museum is made to resemble a ninja house, where the ninjas had meetings, made weapons, and prepared gunpowder. From the outside, it looks like a nondescript farmhouse, but inside, the house is an ingenious mix of hidden pathways and defense systems...
A once quiet residential area near Kyoto Station known as Sujin- shinmachi is being redeveloped and will soon be home to Kyoto City University of the Arts, which is moving in from the suburbs. In the meantime, something called Yatai-Mura has sprung up there. What is Yatai-Mura? A yatai is a traditional Japanese food cart. They can be seen in any downtown or main...
Kobe is a booming modern city with a vital seaport, skyscrapers, and shopping malls. At the same time, it is home to older enclaves where Westerners settled and a thriving Chinatown because of its long history as a trading center. These aspects have attracted more tourists to the city to imbibe the unique international atmosphere. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that Kobe...
A royal warrant is issued to purveyors of food and goods used regularly by His Imperial Majesty and the Japanese Imperial Family. The Imperial Household Ministry (predecessor to today’s Imperial Household Agency) established guidelines for the royal warrants in 1891. Only suppliers that met the Imperial Household Ministry’s standards were eligible to receive a warrant. Contrary to what you might expect from such a...
On May 1, a new emperor ascended the throne in Japan, officially ending the Heisei era and beginning the Reiwa era. This reset the count on the Japanese imperial year, or wareki. In Japan, the year is now Reiwa 1. What does this all mean? We’ll explain. The Japanese imperial-year system has been used since emperor Jinmu was enthroned in BC 660. That’s 2,459...
Built in 1603, Nijo-jo Castle was the shogun’s Kyoto residence during the Edo period (1603 – 1867), and later became Nijo Rikyu (Nijo Imperial Villa). This 400-year-old castle showcases the shoin-zukuri architectural style, more than 3,600 wall paintings. In 1994, Nijo-jo Castle was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Surprisingly, you can have a traditional Japanese meal at this historic castle. Kyoryori Isobe,...
Want a simple, inexpensive, and delicious way to impress your friends at your next get-together? Make one of Japan’s favorite street foods: okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake-like dish typically prepared on a teppan grill. You’ll see it at festivals and restaurants all over Japan, but especially in Osaka, where it is one of the city’s staples along with takoyaki. Some restaurants come equipped...
Want to pick up an authentic kimono or yukata while in Osaka? Visit Kaede-an, a shop with English-speaking staff who will help you pick out the kimono right for you. The store offers a wide selection of reasonably priced kimonos of all ranges, from pre-owned to high-end. You can try them on at the store. This could be the only kimono store in Japan...
