Web Japan > Trends in Japan > Archives > J-food 2007-2008
Aomori Offers Culinary Treats For All Seasons
(February 28, 2008)
Located at the northern tip of Japan's main island of Honshu, Aomori Prefecture, which has a population of 1.44 million, is a fertile land rich in natural beauty and encompassing verdant forests and the Hakkoda mountain range. Thanks to its climate of four distinct seasons, fruits and vegetables from the region are also delicious. The farming, fishing, and mountain communities of Aomori are a treasure trove of traditional recipes and cooking methods using local ingredients.
Yokohama, A Port With an International Flavor
(February 25, 2008)
Home to more than 3.6 million people, Yokohama today is a city that is so open to outsiders that locals say anyone can call themselves a Hamakko (Yokohama native) if they reside in the city for three days. Entrepreneurs and intellectuals from all over Japan and cultural influences from overseas have flowed into Yokohama since it was first opened as a gateway to the outside world, a process that made the city the cosmopolitan place it is today.
Kobe, Culinary Gateway To The West
(February 5, 2008)
Since Kobe's port opened in 1868, the city has assimilated many aspects of foreign culture, lending it a charm all its own. Kobe has transformed into a modern and vibrant metropolis of 1.5 million inhabitants with a diverse food culture featuring Western dishes and confectionery and Chinese cuisine.
Niigata, The Rice Capital of Japan
(December 26, 2007)
Niigata Prefecture boasts astounding natural beauty. Looking out over the Sea of Japan to the West and surrounded by majestic mountains on its other three sides, lush rice fields fan out over the region's serene landscape. Niigata is known throughout Japan as the home of Koshihikari rice, sworn by many to be the best in Japan.
Chiba Offers Delicacies From Land And Sea
(December 4, 2007)
Chiba Prefecture, population 6.1 million, lies just east of Tokyo and occupies a large peninsula lapped by the Pacific Ocean to the South and East and Tokyo Bay to the West. The region is blessed with a mild climate and rich, fertile expanses of farmland, making it one of Japan's most prolific regions of agricultural production.
Eat 'Til You Drop In Osaka
(November 7, 2007)
Osaka, with a population of 2.64 million, is the economic hub of western Japan where foodstuffs from all across Japan are shipped for distribution. This has made it the site of fierce competition among restaurants and earned it the nickname kuidaore no machi, or "the city where you eat ‘til you drop."
Kyoto, Spiritual Home of Japanese Cuisine
(October 3, 2007)
For more than 1,000 years, beginning in 794, the ancient city of Kyoto was the capital of Japan. Kyo-ryori (Kyoto cuisine) is the model for Japanese culinary culture, which places great importance on the use of seasonal ingredients.
Sapporo, Hokkaido's Culinary Hub
(August 30, 2007)
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has selected Hokkaido as the venue for the July 2008 Group of Eight Summit. He chose the site, he says, "because I hope to use it for transmitting the beauty of Japan to the world." The island is indeed a scenic place, and it is also a treasure trove of fresh, tasty foods.
Hokkaido, Cornucopia Of Fine Foods
(August 7, 2007)
Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has selected Hokkaido as the venue for the July 2008 Group of Eight Summit. He chose the site, he says, "because I hope to use it for transmitting the beauty of Japan to the world." The island is indeed a scenic place, and it is also a treasure trove of fresh, tasty foods.
