Japanese food

A Dictionary of Japanese Food: Ingredients & Culture
$16.95
For those of us who love food, Japanese food is exquisite and mysterious. So many ingredients have no counterpart in Western kitchens. When someone translates konnyaku as 'Devil's Tongue Jelly', you are still left wondering what 'Devil's Tongue Jelly' is!

A Dictionary of Japanese Food gives the Japanese kanji, kanna, and romajii along with the Latin, and English common names (if there is one). Detailed descriptions of each term are combined with common usages in food preparation to enlighten us and help bring culinary understanding to the masses.

As for cultural understanding, this book was a life-saver! Japanese are surprised and delighted when I express an indepth understanding of their ingredients and usage. Food is ever a bridge to understanding and acceptance. Anyone for shiokara?

Matsutani Ajitsuke Seasoned Seaweed Snack -- 100 Individually Wrapped Bags
$14.99
I have loved these since I was a kid. They are just awesome!!!! I started to buy these locally at one of the oriental stores (locally meaning a half hour drive - lol). Unfortunately The store I buy such products from had been shut down and there was no other local oriental store from which I could buy my favorite foods. Although shipping is a bit costly, it's not so bad if you buy a ton of packages at once, thus saving you on shipping costs. Being that I spent 2 years in Japan, I am addicted to quite a few of the foods they make there and this seaweed is an addiction for me. I just love it and I could eat 10 packets of these at once. You must try these seaweed packets. Don't be fooled by the other seaweed products. These are specific, slightly salted, excellent munchy snacks, even taste more wonderful than potato chips, pretzels or anything else. They have less calories. You just cannot go wrong with these wonderful seaweed snacks. If you don't buy these you really are missing out on the awesome foods in life. XD

Japanese Yomogi Red Bean Mochi + Red Bean Mochi Sampler - 2x 8 Pc
$12.99
I bought these in the hopes that they would taste as good as people have told me. I was utterly disappointed in these things. They smelled mostly like playdough and tasted the same.

Others may find this appealing but I did not.

Japanese Dinner for Four - Unique Food Gift Basket in a Traditional Bag
$75.00
A couple of the food items were stale, but the response from the company was immediate and they replaced items promptly plus extras.
Very pleased with this. Good customer service and standing behind your products is rare these days. I would use them again because they take pride in their service.