Mentsuyu — The All-Purpose Seasoning Every Japanese Kitchen Relies OnNew!!
What Is Mentsuyu? Do you know about mentsuyu (めんつゆ)? It might just be one of the most useful seasonings in Japanese cooking. In a single bottle, you get dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sake all combined together. Honestly, with just this one seasoning, pretty much anyone can put together a proper Japanese meal. It's such […]
Easy Nikujaga Recipe: Shortcut Japanese Beef and Potato Stew (With Mentsuyu)
A classic Japanese comfort food — tender beef and vegetables simmered in a savoury-sweet broth. This shortcut version uses just one seasoning: mentsuyu. INGREDIENTS Nikujaga (Japanese beef and potato stew) Servings − 4 + STEPS NOTES A note on mentsuyu strength: mentsuyu comes in several concentrations \u2014 straight (ready to use), 2x, 3x, and even […]
Somen — The Noodle You Eat at Home, Not at a Restaurant
When people think of Japanese noodles, ramen is usually the first thing that comes to mind — it's famous worldwide, and for good reason. But did you know there's another noodle that's a huge part of everyday Japanese life, yet you'll almost never see it on a restaurant menu? It's called somen (素麺), and today […]
Our New Kei Truck Has Arrived
Life with a Kei Truck My husband and I spend from May through October living between two homes, maintaining his family house in Hokkaido during that stretch. It's out in the Niseko area — genuinely deep in the mountains. In a place like that, there's one thing you absolutely cannot live without: a vehicle. And […]
What Japanese Expats Miss Most — Plastic Wrap
Does Your Country Have Plastic Wrap Too? Plastic wrap exists in plenty of countries around the world — it's a pretty universal kitchen item. But here's something that might surprise you: plastic wrap is actually one of the things Japanese people living abroad end up missing the most. There are many types of plastic wrap […]
Bath-Cleaning Slippers — A Uniquely Japanese Household Item
Why the Japanese Take Their Shoes Off Indoors If you've ever visited a Japanese home, you'll know the first thing you do is take your shoes off at the entrance. This custom goes back a long way, and there are actually a few reasons behind it: Slippers Actually Originated in Japan Out of this shoes-off […]
Mosquito Protection in Japan — Old Traditions and Modern Must-Haves
Summer in Japan means one thing you can always count on: mosquitoes. Over the years, Japan has developed its own particular culture around keeping them at bay — some of it charmingly old-fashioned, some of it seriously effective modern science. Let me walk you through both. １．Traditional Mosquito Repellents １－１．The Ceramic Pig — Kayari-buta (蚊やり豚) […]
The Sugar You'll Find in a Japanese Kitchen
If you ask most people around the world what sugar they reach for at home, the answer is usually granulated sugar. But here in Japan, that's actually not the case. The sugar you'll find in nearly every Japanese kitchen is something called jōhakutō (上白糖), and there are quite a few other types too. Let me […]
Annual Vehicle Tax (自動車税) in Japan
This is a tax you pay every year, and it's one of the biggest financial advantages of kei cars. While regular cars are taxed based on engine displacement — ranging from ¥25,000 to ¥110,000 per year — kei cars have a flat rate. Here are the rates as of 2026: Kei cars Type Standard rate […]
Kei Cars — Japan's Beloved Mini Vehicles
Have you heard of kei cars (軽自動車 / keijidōsha)? They've been getting some attention overseas lately, and I think they deserve it. Let me give you a proper introduction to what they are, who drives them, and why they make so much sense in Japan. What Exactly Is a Kei Car? To officially qualify as […]