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April 25, 2026
 

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Makiko Itoh

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Makiko Itoh
Makiko Itoh writes the Japanese Kitchen column, and is the author of the bestselling "The Just Bento Cookbook" and its sequel, "The Just Bento Cookbook 2." A Tokyo native, she runs two Japanese cooking blogs, and .
"Shin-tamanegi" (new-harvest onions) are perfect with chicken wings and salads.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Apr 22, 2026
New-harvest onions add layers of flavor to any dish
Keep your eyes peeled for the sweet and juicy "shin-tamanegi" onions at your local supermarket.
Prepare a bento with foods your child will enjoy.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Mar 18, 2026
Bento basics every parent needs to know
There is no need to think out of the box when it comes to your kid's packed lunch. Keeping things simple and nutritious is the goal.
Coated in potato starch instead of flour, the deep-fried 'tatsutaage' has a crispier crust than 'karaage.'
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Feb 19, 2026
91²Ö¿â other fried favorite is no small fry
The less famous version of the deep-fried ¡®karaage¡¯ is equally, if not more, delicious.
Winter is the perfect season to enjoy a hot, nourishing stew
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jan 21, 2026
Stay warm with a Japanese-style ¡®pot-au-feu¡¯ stew
Known for their ¡°warming¡± properties, scrumptious root vegetables are the perfect, nourishing ingredients to toss into your pot as peak winter hits.
Turn a top-grade cut of beef into "temari-zushi" (ball-shaped sushi) for a fun "osechi" New Year's meal.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Dec 23, 2025
Ring in the New Year with beef sushi
Give your traditional year-end ¡°osechi ry¨­ri¡± feast a modern twist with these ball-shaped treats.
"Shungiku" chrysanthemum greens make a perfect ingredient in savory pancakes.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Dec 2, 2025
In winter, spring chrysanthemum greens hit their peak
A favorite ingredient in savory pancakes and sukiyaki, these leafy vegetables offer a flavorful edge as well as a dose of antioxidants.
The Japanese version of "m¨¡b¨­ d¨­fu," a tofu and pork stew, is less spicy than the original Sichuan dish.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Nov 2, 2025
A Sichuan-inspired classic gets an umami boost
Toss in some shiitake mushrooms into your "m¨¡b¨­ d¨­fu," a spicy stew of tofu and pork, for a savory boost.
The autumn eggplant works well in stir-fry dishes because its moisture-rich texture absorbs oil.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Sep 30, 2025
Autumn eggplants offer a juicy start to the season
Packed with a higher water content than its summer counterpart, the tender vegetable is a great choice to soak up the sauce in your stir-fry.
An Okinawan stir-fry, "s¨­men champur¨±" is your answer to a quick and easy lunch.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Aug 31, 2025
A fuss-free Okinawan stir-fry to boost your energy in the heat
While they are usually eaten cold this season, thin ¡°s¨­men¡± noodles offer a delicious, savory alternative when fried with a pork and vegetable mixture.
Juicy and refreshing, marinated tomatoes make the perfect side dish to cool you down this summer.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jul 27, 2025
As summer soars, the tomato offers a lesson in staying bright and cool
Peel them, soak them, chill them. Juicy, marinated tomatoes make the perfect side dish to bring down the heat this season.
Turn your old rice into a simple, delicious meal by cooking it with other ingredients.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jun 22, 2025
One way to bring back the mojo in ¡®old old old rice¡¯
Go against the grain by turning stockpiled or ¡°komai¡± rice into a delicious meal ¡ª the trick is to mix it with other ingredients.
Sea bream with rice is a popular Japanese dish, especially during this season when the fish is at its peak flavor.
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 25, 2025
As spring unfolds, sea bream turns into a prized catch
Capture the comforting flavors of the season with the classic pairing of the delicate fish with rice.
These two wild vegetables combine well to create a simple yet tantalizing side dish to any Japanese meal.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Mar 16, 2025
After a long winter, wild veggies can brighten up any dish
Edible vegetables foraged in 91²Ö¿â countryside can be an easy way to add texture and freshness.
Born from the necessities of the Edo Period, this method of preparing and serving daikon is a small way to make a tiny dent in your weekly grocery bill.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 16, 2025
Cut and dried daikon: A time-tested frugal treat
Take some sting out of inflation by stocking up on this preserved radish you can serve in stews and salads.
The key to cooking these on the stovetop is to keep everything at a very low temperature so that the ingredients slowly steam before setting into a dense, fudge-like texture.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Dec 15, 2024
A Christmas miracle? No, just brownies ¡®baked¡¯ sans oven.
With a bit of ingenuity, it¡¯s possible to ¡°bake¡± your own brownies on a regular stovetop.
Kabocha are harvested in the summer, but they don't reach peak flavor until they mature in the months leading up to fall and winter.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Nov 3, 2024
A perfect dish for peak kabocha season
This dish is an interesting alternative to potato salad and also makes a great appetizer to go along with some pre-dinner drinks.?
Yukio Hattori was an integral part of "Iron Chef" broadcasts, though his impact on food culture in Japan went far beyond the TV screen.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 27, 2024
Remembering Yukio Hattori, the voice of ¡®Iron Chef¡¯
Yukio Hattori was best known to international audiences as the expert commentator on the original Japanese version of the popular TV program ¡°Iron Chef,¡±
Who can survive summer on chilled noodles and salads alone?
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Aug 11, 2024
Fight fiery summer temps with this dry Japanese curry
This recipe is quick to prepare and can be made in advance, making it great for the hot summer months when you don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen.
It may not qualify as a health food, but if spare ribs help you endure Japan's summers, your doctor likely won't mind.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jun 30, 2024
Eat your way to a bit of heat relief
Eating small amounts of nutritionally dense yet balanced foods at regular time periods can help keep Japan¡¯s summer doldrums at bay.
Eat like a Buddhist monk ¡ª or like a tofu lover who enjoys a bit of deep frying.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jun 2, 2024
Vegan dumplings to please any Buddhist monk
Whatever you call these tasty dumplings, feel free to mix any finely cut vegetables into the tofu base besides the ones in the recipe.
Prudential Life Insurance suspends sales for additional 180 days
Prudential Life CEO Hiromitsu Tokumaru (center) and other executives from the firm during a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday
The language around Japan¡¯s new bike rules leaves no room for ¡®maybe¡¯
Under the new blue ticket system, cyclists will have one week in which to pay fines for minor traffic violations.
Japanese scientist accused of putting chemicals in co-worker¡¯s water in U.S.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yakuza membership fell to record low in 2025
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has set up a special task force to intensify its crackdown on the Kohei-ikka, a Sumiyoshi-kai-affiliated designated crime group suspected of deepening its involvement with <i>tokury¨±</i> networks, including special fraud linked to illegal job schemes.
Don Quijote owner opens discount grocer as Japan inflation bites
Pan Pacific International Holdings, the owner of discount chain Don Quijote, opened its first Robin Hood store, a new food-focused chain, in Aichi Prefecture on Friday.
Professional sumo awaits three potential new stars
Bill Christopher Li, now known as Honoikazuchi, at the All-Japan championships at the Kokugikan on Nov. 30
How to prepare when Japan is under an earthquake advisory
Sendai Station is crowded with people Monday after the Tohoku shinkansen line suspended operation following a powerful earthquake off the Sanriku coast.
Now on the multilingual margins, can Japanese bookstores be more than just a vibe?
Jimbocho, Tokyo¡¯s book town, has gained popularity online and some travel companies are already selling book-centric tours for foreign visitors.
Stars aligning for Japan as World Cup approaches
Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi (left) heads the ball from a corner kick during Japan&#039;s match against Scotland in Glasgow on March 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Projects like the BuddhaBot aim to re-create dialogue once lost to time, raising questions about whether AI can extend the teachings of Buddha or merely simulate them.
Can AI replace a priest? Japan¡¯s temples and shrines are testing the limits.
By Alex K.T. Martin

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