In the last installment of How to Be a Baka Gaijin, we explored the many ways you can be a baka gaijin in the house. But one area we kind of glossed over was how to behave at the dinner table. Today, I shall answer all of your burning questions about how to show off [...]
One of Japan’s biggest culinary exports is Kobe beef, a high-end meat from purebred cows. Its quality is the stuff of legend. People say that the cows are massaged, played classical music, fed booze, and pampered in every way a cow possibly could be. Kobe beef has taken off outside of Japan in recent years. [...]
Japanese sparkling water beer is the medicine that helps the salaryman endure their boss’ off pitch karaoke during the frequent work parties. It is the refreshing, crisp drink that gets the common Japanese red-faced in only half a pint. Those who have had the pleasure of drinking the more popular “dry” variety can probably describe them as [...]
We all know Japan is no stranger to eating whales, but did you know they also eat Vikings as well? Ever since the 1950s, eating Vikings has become a very regular thing in Japan. Everywhere from Okinawa to Hokkaido, Japanese folk enjoy Vikings on a daily basis. What’s that? You’re not following me here? Allow [...]
The Japanese have a different relationship with fruit than most cultures. Fruit, especially melons, are given as gifts, and some fruits are even cultivated as luxury items. A while back, I stumbled upon a photo essay about an apple orchard in Japan that kind of gives a good example of the kind of hard work [...]
Foods from other cultures can sometimes weird people out. It’s a typical response to be confused and/or repulsed something that’s not normal in your culture, but it’s always a good idea to try to understand it before you completely dismiss it. Case in point, one Japanese food has caused more controversy than any other: whale [...]
Japan loves its food. It also loves its food movies. No matter where you go in Japan, you’ll always run into local dishes, special sweets, and famous restaurants and chefs. It really is a food obsessed nation. So obsessed, I’ve found, that there are a plethora of food museums and theme parks scattered around Japan [...]
