Fate has a funny way of dancing us in directions unimagined in childhood. Hiroyuki Igarashi, owner of the popular Manhattan Beach RICE, is an avid baseball fan. From childhood through college he played baseball. A career in sports seemed to be in the cards. However, adult realities and responsibilities appeared during his college years.  ..read more

Paradise kindly provided the candied fruit for this post. All opinions are mine ..read more

Mochi Ice Cream Japanese Mochi Ice Cream – a treat for all ages – is appearing in Southern California supermarkets. Just in case you have yet to discover the delights of mochi; it is a pounded sticky rice. During Japanese the New Year season, mochi is baked in squares (or rounds) with a bit of soy sauce and wrapped in seaweed. Mochi is also put into a hot red bean soup which is the ultimate winter treat. But in summertime the ultimate Japanese treat is Mochi Ice Cream ..read more

Yes. You can have cake, wine and stay healthy! How? Well, by using Japanese tofu as a foundation you are off to a good start. Tofu is packed with protein, iron and calcium ..read more

I’m a blue-eyed American gaijin (foreigner in Japanese) who lived in Japan during the Showa Period until I was 18 years old. (As you probably know, periods of Japanese history refer to the reigning Emperor.) Thanks to Emperor Akihito’s wife, Empress Michiko, I have been fascinated by the imperial family since I was a child. Like a true princess, Michiko was kind to everyone. Her elegant sense of fashion was fantastic. I'm still an Empress Michiko fan ..read more

Respect for the Aged takes place in Japan on September 21st. (It’s always the 3rd Monday of every month.) 117-year-old Mrs. Kane Tanaka of Fukuoka is gaining a lot of respect these days. News cameras are flashing and Twitter is aflutter about this very special birthday lady ..read more

Japanese samurai sipped matcha green tea and meditated before battle. Besides the antioxidants (and anti-cancer) medicinal effects of matcha, high quality green tea is plain delicious ..read more

Who will take home the most gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2021? Who knows. YOU will be the winner and enjoy your Tokyo Olympics trip the most…IF you pack 8 essential items.  ..read more

Baikatei: A Sweet for All Seasons Up for a bit of time travel in Tokyo? Step onto the hallowed grounds of one of the two Baikatei sweetshops in the Kagurazaka district.  From the architecture, to the artisans and sellers of the wagashi sweets, the stores are steeped in tradition. There is also a sense of pride generously sprinkled with gracious humility ..read more

Girl Power Kodai-Ji Kyoto  Kodai-Ji Temple with its feminine flourishes is like Kyoto’s famed geisha. A smile lingers on the lips. But her backstory is often poignant ..read more