Author Archives: Risa

About Risa

Host and creator of Savory Japan, a website about Japanese food and culture. Moderator of the Savory Japan Blog.

In Season: Sansho no mi

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Risa

If you’ve ever traveled to Japan during the month of May, you probably had a chance to try fresh sansho no mi, the delightfully spicy pods of the sansho pepper plant. At least, we hope so! For the uninitiated, it’s … Continue reading →

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Sushi Kanesaka: Edomae sushi in Ginza

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Risa

Everyone is talking about the recent movie “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” Have you seen it? I found the movie fascinating, and like everyone else, I dream of being lucky enough to dine there one day. However, reservations are made a … Continue reading →

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In Season: Sansai Mountain Vegetables

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Risa

This month, we’re launching a new section on Savory Japan called In Season: The Calendar of Shun. Here is where we’ll feature the very best foods of the season, month by month. If you don’t know about the Japanese concept … Continue reading →

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Esaki: Contemporary Japanese in Aoyama

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Risa

Featured on Savory Japan for April is Esaki, a wonderful three-star Michelin rated establishment featuring chef Shintaro Esaki’s innovative cuisine. Every single bite of our lunch was surprising and incredibly delicious. And midway through our meal, our server came to … Continue reading →

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Hinamatsuri: Celebrating Girls’ Day

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Risa

Today is Hinamatsuri, Japanese Girls’ Day. This month on Savory Japan, we introduce the festival, as well as some of the special foods that are enjoyed on this day. The beautiful Odaira-sama (Emperor) and Ohina-sama (Empress) dolls pictured here are … Continue reading →

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Hoshinoya Kyoto: Redefining the Luxury Ryokan

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Risa

Last Autumn, just after we stayed at Hoshinoya Karuizawa and made a brief detour to Nagano, we arrived at the boat launch for Hoshinoya Kyoto, the latest addition to the luxury modern ryokan (Japanese inn) resort as envisioned by Yoshiharu … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Jubako

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Risa

Happy New Year! May 2012 be filled many delicious meals shared with good friends and family. We thought we’d share some tips we’ve learned over several years of putting together the oshogatsu (New Year’s) meals in jubako (tiered lacquered boxes). … Continue reading →

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Oshogatsu 2012

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Risa

New Year’s is just around the corner, and we’ve already completed half of our shopping for the coming year’s Oshogatsu celebration. The centerpiece of the meal is osechi ryori, pictured above, served in antique black-lacquered trays. Osechi is a time-worn, … Continue reading →

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Sencha Basics

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Risa

If you’re like us, no matter how much time you spend in Kyoto you feel like you’re only scratching the surface. The city holds so much knowledge that it can be both fascinating and frustrating at the same time. Well, … Continue reading →

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Hoshinoya: Imagining another Japan

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Risa

Recently, we had a chance to stay at two remarkable resorts: Hoshinoya Karuizawa and Hoshinoya Kyoto. We’re big fans of the traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) experience, but after our blissful stays we became fascinated by this new style of accommodation, … Continue reading →

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