“Ichigo ichie” (一期一会): a Japanese idiom meaning “one time, one meeting”. The phrase embodies the cultural concept of treasuring meetings with people, and is often translated as “one chance in a lifetime”, reminding people to cherish any meeting or experience they are part of, as they may not be repeated. The phrase “ichigo ichie” has been … Continue reading
“Ichigo ichie” (一期一会): a Japanese idiom meaning “one time, one meeting”. The phrase embodies the cultural concept of treasuring meetings with people, and is often translated as “one chance in a lifetime”, reminding people to cherish any meeting or experience they are part of, as they may not be repeated. The phrase “ichigo ichie” has been … Continue reading
Miso Tasty, my favourite supplier of miso (みそ) in the UK, created by chef and food blogger extraordinaire Bonnie Chung, has just published a fantastic new cookbook! Not only is this a lovely book to have on your shelf (it feels nice and fabricy and is beautifully designed with delicious photos throughout), it’s also packed … Continue reading
It may be the end of April, and the cherry blossom has been and gone in most parts of Japan, but I’m still thinking about last autumn! On 10th December I continued my journey in Shikoku and travelled to Kotohira (琴平), where I would spend one night. Kotohira is a small town in Kagawa Prefecture … Continue reading
For my final recipe of the year before I take a little break I wanted to do something seasonal, so I decided to make Kabocha Pudding (かぼちゃプリン). Kabocha is a kind of Japanese pumpkin, and it’s quite different to British pumpkins which are usually large and orange. Kabocha are small and dark green, and they … Continue reading
Compared with last month’s sushi cupcakes, the appearance of this month’s recipe is a bit of a let down, but it tastes good, and really that’s all that matters! This month I decided to make a Yuzu Cake. Yuzu (ユズ) is an East Asian citrus fruit, and in Japanese cuisine it is most commonly known … Continue reading
This month my office is having a Bake Off competition (inspired by the Great British Bake Off) to raise money for those affected by the floods in Burma. If you feel so inclined, you can donate to the Red Cross through our Just Giving page. I was in the first round of bakers last week, and … Continue reading
This month I wanted to make something different, and I decided to create something new! I wanted to make something savoury and vegetarian, and in the end I decided to make a version of katsu curry (カツカレー). Katsu curry is usually made with chicken, but I decided to try it with aubergine instead. The results … Continue reading
This month it was my mum’s birthday, so I thought I would make her a Japanese deco roll cake! I think this second attempt was an improvement on my first attempt, but I still need to practice more. I couldn’t have done any of it without this wonderful book though: Strawberries & Cream Deco Roll … Continue reading
This month I wanted to use some of the ingredients I already had in the cupboard, and I wanted to make something sweet. One of the sweet snacks I used to enjoy from the convenience store in Japan was mushi pan, literally ‘steamed bread’ or ‘steamed cake’, and when I remembered that I decided to … Continue reading
Haikugirl's Japan 