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Tag - fermentation

 
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July 24, 2026
 

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FERMENTATION

Recent years have seen "natt¨­" (fermented soybeans) join a series of fermented foods, from kimchi to kombucha, that have surged in popularity worldwide as Americans in particular seek better digestive health following the COVID-19 pandemic.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 22, 2026
¡®A little funky¡¯: Japanese ¡®natt¨­¡¯ disgusts and delights the world
Aside from its supposed health benefits, ¡®natt¨­¡¯?has long been loved in Japan for its stunning affordability ¡ª charms the rest of the world seems to be warming up to.
If millions of Japanese people eat these sticky, pungent, fermented soybeans every day, surely they can't all be wrong?
LIFE / Food & Drink / The Recipe Box
May 31, 2026
A little bit of Japan¡¯s infamously sticky soybeans goes a long way
Unlike some other fermented foods, making ¡°natt¨­¡± requires the ability to release heat and condensation produced by the bacteria at the center of the process.
A buttermilk-inspired marinade gives a rich umami flavor to your fried chicken.
LIFE / Food & Drink / The Recipe Box
Apr 30, 2026
Japanese fried chicken with a Southern twist
Step up your ¡°karaage¡± game by coating your chicken in a rich miso milk marinade ¡ª?Southern style.
Asami Kurihara (right) and her son, Yuto Kurihara, talk as they prepare food together.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Apr 6, 2026
Survivor of 2011 disaster works to keep people healthy with fermented food
After surviving the Great East Japan Earthquake while pregnant, Asami Kurihara obtained a certification for being a fermented food sommelier.
Biscoff cookie crumbs are perfect ingredients for a scrumptious crust.
LIFE / Food & Drink / The Recipe Box
Apr 1, 2026
Cookies, miso and milk make a pie for all seasons
Pull off a delicious, no-cream bake with a little help from ¡°k¨­ji¡± mold.
At Buryu Winery, owner Keiji Yamaguchi (left) and assistant winemaker Kaede Narita created a cedar-infused red wine by fermenting it in a 1,000 liter "kioke" cedar tub.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 6, 2026
Against the grain: Japanese wine aged in local barrels
A small but growing number of domestic winemakers are using vessels made from native trees such as ¡°mizunara,¡± moving away from the norm of using European or American oak.
Sushi, such as this Kyoto-style "saba b¨­zushi" (rolled sushi with vinegared mackerel) at Kibun, stood out in Tokyo's dining scene in 2025.
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 26, 2025
Tokyo dining in 2025 was defined by sushi and cutting-edge fare
The city¡¯s restaurant scene had no shortage of drama this year as culinary stars set up new shops, Italian stalwarts left and iconic establishments reemerged from their renovation.
Yoko Nakazawa's debut cookbook, ¡°The Japanese Art of Pickling and Fermenting: Preserving Vegetables and Family Traditions," offers 125 recipes, from fuss-free sweet vinegar pickles to more challenging dishes such as rice bran pickles (above).
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 11, 2025
Brine and dine: A guide to pickling your Japanese vegetables
Yoko Nakazawa¡¯s debut cookbook offers a deep dive into preserving your greens ¡ª a method that has formed the bedrock of her family¡¯s culinary traditions.
Located in Patina Osaka, P72 doesn't have a fixed menu, opting instead to rely on whatever is available from local suppliers and its on-site garden to create its innovative plant-based cuisine.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 25, 2025
P72 sows the seeds for a dynamic plant-based cuisine
With an ever-changing menu dictated by what¡¯s available from its garden and suppliers, the Osaka-based restaurant injects creativity and spontaneity into its green cuisine.
You don't need an oven to make Kenji Morimoto's easy and delicious Miso Sticky Toffee Crepe Cake.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 20, 2025
In microbes we trust: Embracing the nature of fermented food
With simple, fuss-free recipes, Kenji Morimoto¡¯s debut cookbook effortlessly guides home cooks into the unpredictable but rewarding world of fermentation.
Created by a Hokkaido workshop, this Camembert represents the vanguard of Japanese cheeses no longer content with a reputation as low-quality, processed slices.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 16, 2025
Fresh off awards, Japanese cheese seeks a taste ¡®unique to this land¡¯
A growing number of Japanese cheesemakers are gaining international recognition, and some are aiming for a new frontier of flavor.
Even if you¡¯re unfamiliar with 'k¨­ji' by name, chances are you¡¯ve been consuming it for a while.
LIFE / Food & Drink / The Recipe Box
Feb 18, 2024
Recipe: Dry rub to jump down the ¡®k¨­ji¡¯ rabbit hole
On the eve of a major gathering of Aspergillus oryzae aficionados, here¡¯s a ¡®k¨­ji¡¯ recipe to get you started on your own adventure with the magical mold.
A field study by elementary school students takes place in the Izawa River basin in Shiso, Hyogo Prefecture.
LIFE / Travel
Dec 24, 2023
Unveiling Shiso, a hidden gem of nature and coexistence
With 90% of its area covered by forest, the Hyogo city boasts picturesque streams and a bounty of access points to refreshing natural spring water.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Apr 2, 2023
Shizen: Firewood, ferments and finesse in backstreet Shibuya
Chef Yu Kunisue¡¯s dual passions of wood-fired cooking and fermented exploration come to delightful fruition.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Jan 23, 2023
Why Japan¡¯s favorite fermented paste may hold the key to a low-carbon diet
The ancient art of fermentation, an essential part of Japanese cuisine, is helping reduce the environmental impact of the food we eat today, and will eat in the future.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 13, 2022
The Americans going where no miso has gone before
Eleana Hsu and Kevin Gondo don¡¯t just break the rules with their homemade miso and shoyu ¡ª they create their own.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 22, 2022
Kojicon shines the spotlight on a staple of Japanese cooking
Home fermentation became a popular pastime among budding cooks during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Destination Restaurants 2021
Jul 17, 2021
Tonoya Yo: Japan¡¯s fermentation fundamentals, made modern
Chef, brewmaster and hotelier Yotaro Sasaki takes locally grown Tono rice and traditional fermented fare to new culinary heights.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 20, 2021
Hakko Department: Set meals showcase the breadth of Japan¡¯s fermented foods
It¡¯s easy to take Japan¡¯s wealth of fermented foods for granted. Hakko Department puts them front and center.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jul 11, 2020
¡®Koji Alchemy¡¯: Fermentation enthusiasts are making mold magic
¡°Koji Alchemy¡± delves into the significance of ku014dji ¡ª Japan¡¯s semiofficial ¡°national mold¡± ¡ª and demystifies making and cooking with it at home.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

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