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November 29, 2023
 

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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, JustHungry.com and JustBento.com.
For Makiko Itoh's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
This stir-fry is a staple of many Japanese meals, and the techniques used to make are also commonly used throughout traditional cuisine.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 5, 2023
Recipe: Carrot and burdock root stir-fry
When selecting "gobō," choose ones that are straight and relatively thin — the thicker, the older.
This sweet and salty dish owes much to both early modern merchants and 20th century Tokyo University students.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Oct 22, 2023
Recipe: Deep-fried sweet (and salty) potatoes
Sweet potatoes are an iconic Japanese treat. Originally from Central America, they came through China in the 17th century to southern Kyushu.
Get a taste of Hokkaido’s playfully named chan-chan yaki — or griddle-cooked salmon.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Sep 11, 2023
Recipe: Hokkaido-style griddle-cooked salmon
This dish reflects a combination of Ainu food traditions from Hokkaido.
Almost every household in Yamagata has their own recipe for this dish of sliced and lightly sauced vegetables.
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Aug 6, 2023
Recipe: Yamagata’s famous summer veggie relish
Unlike in most of Japan, in Yamagata Prefecture, “dashi” can refer to this dish of finely chopped summer vegetables and herbs.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jul 2, 2023
Recipe: Chilled lime soba
A common saying among Japanese noodle lovers goes: “Udon in the west, soba in the east.”
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jun 18, 2023
Recipe: Fresh vegetable kakiage fritters
Deep frying fresh vegetables like these is not as popular when they"re in season, but it’s still one of the easiest ways to bring out the sweetness and crunch of veggies.
Japan Times
Special Supplements / Hiroshima G7 Summit Special
May 19, 2023
From surf ’n’ turf to sweets, Hiroshima a foodie’s oyster
Situated on the western tip of Honshu between the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, the climate of Hiroshima Prefecture is one of contrasts, with a northern side chilled by cold currents and a southern side that stays mild and warm. The mountainous areas see snow and the coastal areas can get plenty of rain, promoting the farming and fishing that give the region its unique delicacies.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
May 3, 2023
Recipe: ‘Carp’ sushi bento
Perfect for Children"s Day, this colorful meal is easier to put together than the final result might suggest.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Mar 12, 2023
Recipe: Botamochi sweets to welcome spring
Spring is just about to ... well ... spring, and these sweet adzuki treats are traditional equinox bites.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Feb 19, 2023
Recipe: Crab cream croquettes
Try your hand at making some deep-fried, deep sea delights.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jan 8, 2023
Recipe: Sumo hot pot
It's said chicken makes for a perfect chanko nabe since the animal usually stands tall on its two feet.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Dec 11, 2022
Recipe: Kakiage soba
Casting about for the perfect Japanese meal to close out this year and ring in the next? Look no further.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Nov 6, 2022
Recipe: Simmered kabocha
In honor of all the jack-o-lanterns headed for the trash heap this week, turn some kabocha in to a subtly sweet treat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Oct 9, 2022
Recipe: Kyoto-style rice bowl
Dating back to the 19th century, oyakodon rice bowls taste far better than their slightly macabre name might suggest.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Sep 11, 2022
Recipe: Garlic liver stir-fry
Don't let the name fool you: Offal cooked right is anything but.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Aug 14, 2022
Recipe: Chilled noodles with a healthy twist
Take your su014dmen on a Mediterranean journey.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jul 24, 2022
Recipe: Sauteed and marinated chilled tofu
Can't decide between a cold dish or a hot one? Don't.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jul 3, 2022
Recipe: Panfried ginger pork
Savory pork and fresh ginger as a way to beat the heat? According to Japanese culinary tradition, yes.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Jun 5, 2022
Recipe: Sweet bean treats, two ways
Getting the best quality, freshest beans available will make a difference in the final result.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
May 15, 2022
Recipe: Japanese-style pasta with fresh asparagus
Take advantage of these seasonal treats with this wafu016b (Japanese-style) recipe that puts asparagus in the spotlight.
Wasabi effective in improving memory of elderly: study
A research has found that hexaraphane — a component found in wasabi — helps improve the episodic and working memories of elderly people.
Japan is enticing for digital nomads, but visa hurdles remain
Akina Shu has visited around 50 countries as a speaker and ambassador on the digital nomad lifestyle since 2020.
How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku
Yoshiko Koide sits in a classroom at Nagoya College where she teaches a Japanese-language observation seminar.
Nature-focused theme park to open in Okinawa in 2025
A rendering of the new Junglia theme park scheduled to open in Okinawa in 2025
Bedbugs are spreading in South Korea and China. Is Japan next?
A bed bug in Paris in September
How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku
Yoshiko Koide sits in a classroom at Nagoya College where she teaches a Japanese-language observation seminar.
Japan is enticing for digital nomads, but visa hurdles remain
Akina Shu has visited around 50 countries as a speaker and ambassador on the digital nomad lifestyle since 2020.
Japan to start trial of over-the-counter sales of morning-after pills
Customers look at products on display outside a drug store in Tokyo on Friday. As part of a trial, 145 stores nationwide will be allowed to sell morning-after pills until the end of March.
Bedbugs are spreading in South Korea and China. Is Japan next?
A bed bug in Paris in September
Tasting the 'Zen of coffee' at speakeasy-esque Cokuun
Hidenori Izaki, one-time winner of the World Barista Championship, brings coffee to new heights at Cokuun.

Podcast

An official shot for this year’s lineup for NHK’s annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”
Things get warmer with Xi; Johnny’s get the cold shoulder

Longform

Yoshiko Koide sits in a classroom at Nagoya College where she teaches a Japanese-language observation seminar.
How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku
By Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue

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