Category: Japan

Osaka-Style Okonomiyaki

Osaka (大阪市, Ōsaka-shi)is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2.7 million. It is located in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū, at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay.

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, Okonomiyaki) is a pan-fried Japanese dish cooked with various ingredients. Okonomi means “what you like” or “what you want”, and yaki means “grilled” or “cooked” (cf. yakitori and yakisoba); thus, the name of this dish means “cook what you like, the way you like”. In Japan, okonomiyaki is usually associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region.

Kizakura Sake (1961)

Sake (Japanese: é…’) is a Japanese word meaning “alcoholic beverage”, which in English has come to refer to a specific alcoholic beverage brewed mainly from rice, and known in Japan as either nihonshu (日本酒 “Japanese alcohol”) or sake. This article uses the word “sake” as it is used in English.

Kappa (河童, Kappa “river-child”), alternately called Gatarō (川太郎, Gatarō “river-boy”) or Kawako (川子, Kawako “river-girl”) , are legendary creatures; a type of water imp found in Japanese folklore. However they are also considered to be a part of cryptozoology, due to apparent sightings. In Shintoism they are considered to be one of many suijin (literally “water-deity”).

Sapporo Ichiban Shio Ramen

Sapporo Ichiban (サッポロ一番, Sapporo Ichiban) is a brand of instant noodles (most of them ramen) made by Sanyo Foods and rivals to other Japanese ramen brands like Nissin. Sapporo Ichiban has found a market outside of Japan, most notably with Chinese consumers in Hong Kong and Canada.

Commercial Heaven has more ramen commercials than you can shake a noodle at.