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
I was recently contacted by the nice people at Chimasu asking me if I would like to sample one of their oriental snack boxes. Of course, I said yes! Om nom nom. Chimasu.com was started by two friends who loved the snacks they discovered whilst travelling in East Asia and wanted to share the joy with … Continue reading
Last weekend I went to London for the annual Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square. The Japan Matsuri is now in its 7th year, and I have to say it wasn’t one of the best years I’ve experienced. There were some good acts, but there was nothing I personally thought was that outstanding. Still, I stayed for … 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
Today I’m posting a very much overdue review of Sticks & Broth in Bristol. A year ago (can it really be that long?!) this poster appeared in an empty shop near my office, and my colleagues and I all got incredibly excited! Sticks & Broth, Bristol’s first real ramen restaurant opened last summer, and I … 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
“X Japan (エックス・ジャパン) is a Japanese heavy metal band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Predominantly a power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while … 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
Whilst I was at HYPER JAPAN recently I came across a stall selling old kokeshi (こけし) dolls (the stall was part of Kimono De Go). As a collector of kokeshi I was curious to see how much they were charging for dolls which were probably found at flea markets. They hand a range of dolls in … Continue reading
10th – 12th July 2015 saw the HYPER JAPAN Festival, dubbed ‘the UK’s biggest J-culture event’ come to the O2 in London. Having previously been held at venues such as Olympia and Earls Court, the O2 was a new home for this ever-popular event. I went along on the Saturday and Sunday to get my … Continue reading
Haikugirl's Japan 