Ancestor

Cuisine:

Japan’s Higan, a seven-day Buddhist memorial service

Higan is a seven-day Buddhist memorial service held three days before, after and on the spring and autumn equinox (Mar. 21 and Sep. 24) to honor loved ones who have died.

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Community News

Cuisine:

What are these veggie creatures used for Japan’s Obon holiday?

Every August, families in Japan prepare for the return of their ancestors spirits with elaborate altars, displays and even dance festivals called Bon Odori.
Around this time grocery stores prepare many festive foods used for offerings as well as special decorations. But, what are Shoryo Uma and why are they made of cucumbers and eggplants?

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Community News

Cuisine:

Video| Speakin' Japanese lesson: How are you going to spend Obon?

Obon is a traditional festive period to honor and entertain our ancestors’ souls and most regions in Japan observe it from August 13 through Aug. 16.
During this time, you’ll notice families visiting cemeteries and setting up festival altars to welcome the souls of their relatives. Bon Odori dances during this time are also a popular way to...

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Travel

Cuisine:

The sacred shrine of Sefa Utaki on Okinawa

Sefa Utaki is the Okinawan way of acknowledging the “ultimate ancestor”, the creator of the Ryukyu Islands. It is a place of respect, reflection and thanksgiving, much like the shrines in other parts of the world where we pay respect for those who have gone before us.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Italian

Taste of Okinawa: Pizza Sun serves up delicious pie

Following a recommendation from one of our readers, I was on a quest for some good eats at Pizza Sun Okinawa.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

VIDEO| Taste of Okinawa: Making island's delicious doughnuts

Want to have some fun in the kitchen? Well, you should make her some Okinawan doughnuts. Sata Andagi are very simple to make, even if you are not an expert in the kitchen. It’s time to put on an apron and get cooking!

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Indian, Japanese

VIDEO| Quick and tasty Japanese curry in a bag

These pouches are a great way to add a little Japanese curry into your weeknight dinner menu repertoire.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine:

VIDEO| Okinawa Kitchen: Cooking up island's famous braised pork belly

If you have traveled to Okinawa, you may have stumbled across a dish fit for kings. It’s true, rafute, or braised pork belly, was served as a staple to Okinawan royalty.

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Food & Drink

Cuisine: Japanese

VIDEO| Not feeling good? Japanese comfort foods perfect cure!

Winter is the time where there are more chances of getting sick than in any other seasons. This winter looks no less unforgiving with a very contagious variant of COVID-19 adding another obstacle to the already difficult season.