CATEGORY Japanese Culture

Japanese Culture

Mochi Ice Cream

Today, we’d like to introduce you to the charms of “Mochi Ice Cream,” a unique dessert born in Japan. With its intriguing texture and delicious taste, it’s now capturing the hearts of people worldwide.✨ What Exactly is Mochi? A Traditional Japanese Food First, let’s talk about “Mochi.”Mochi is a traditional food that has been cherished in Japan for centuries. It’s an incredibly soft and chewy dough made from glutinous rice, a special type of short-grain rice. Its unique texture is perfectly described by the Japanese onomatopoeia “mochi-mochi.”While it’s a bit difficult to put into words, you can imagine the pillowy softness of a marshmallow combined with the pleasant chewiness of…

Japanese Culture

Setsubun in Japan

February 3rd marks Setsubun in Japan, a traditional event where people eat Ehomaki (a special sushi roll) and perform Mamemaki (bean-throwing ritual). During Mamemaki, people throw roasted soybeans while chanting “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi”, which means “Out with demons, in with good fortune!” This custom is meant to drive away evil spirits—symbolizing illness and misfortune—and invite happiness into our homes. After the bean-throwing, it is customary to eat the same number of soybeans as your age.We ate our beans too! In the Kanto region, people often enjoy Kenchin-jiru (a hearty vegetable soup) on Setsubun. Meanwhile, in the Kansai region, it is common to hang a decoration made of…