Wagashi: Cooling Kyoto Kibune River Yokan

Kyoto Strategies and Customs for Feeling Cool in Summer Wagashi: Kibune River Yokan
This yokan wagashi is section of river with swimming fish, floating green leaves and boulders that in addition to being tasty meant to have a cooling effect on the mind of the eater.…
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Wagashi: Firefly Theme Namagashi

Firefly Theme Namagashi 亀屋良長 蛍テーマ生菓子 Firefly Theme Namagashi 亀屋良長 蛍テーマ生菓子
This wagashi from a historic shinise store in Kyoto, Kameyama Yoshinaga, is reminiscent of fireflies on verdant green foliage of early summer.…
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Wagashi: Daimonji Okuribi Senbei and Kompeito

Wagashi: Daimonji Senbei and Kompeito 京都 大文字 送り火 せんべい こんぺいとう Wagashi: Daimonji Senbei and Kompeito 京都 大文字 送り火 せんべい こんぺいとう
Daimonji: A festival like non other in the entire world! Daimonji, literally means ‘great (big) character’. On a mid-August night massive bonfires are burned on 5 mountainsides surrounding Kyoto in the form of Chinese characters and pictograms to guide the visiting spirits back to the other world. Tawaraya Yoshitomi uses…
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Doyo Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th

Doyo Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th うなぎ土用丑の日 Ushinohi: Unagi Eel Day, July 24th うなぎ土用丑の日 Unagi, or freshwater eel, is a very popular food in contemporary Japan and there is a dedicated ‘Eel Day’ in mid-summer (this year July 24th) on which most Japanese eat unagi.…
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