Yokan is a Japanese jellied dessert made of red bean paste and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form and eaten in slices. Yokan also contain chopped chestnuts, persimmons, figs, sweet potato among other seasonal additions. This version of yokan is from Kanazawa with tiny flecks of real gold embedded in the confection.

Shokado Bento - The origin of bento can be traced back to the Kamakura Period when cooked and dried rice called hoshi-ii literally "dried meal" was developed. In the Edo Period bento culture spread and became more refined. Bento became even more popular in the 80s with the help of the microwave and the proliferation of convenience stores. The expensive wood and metal boxes have been replaced at most bento shops with inexpensive, disposable plastic ones Even handmade bento have made a comeback, and they are once again a common sight at picnics.

Tofu or bean curd is made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. Although it is of Chinese origin, it is most commonly associated with Japanese cuisine where many varieties exist. Nowadays it has become fashionable as a meat substitute, with added ingredients to enhance its normally bland flavour.

In Japanese cuisine, sushi is vinegared rice topped with other ingredients, especially fish. Sliced raw fish alone is called sashimi, as distinct from sushi. Combined with hand-formed clumps of rice it is called nigirizushi. Sushi items served rolled inside or around nori is makizushi, toppings stuffed into a small pouch of fried tofu is inarizushi; and toppings served scattered over a bowl of sushi rice called chirashi-zushi.

Japanese Mochi is a rice cake made of rice pounded into paste and then molded into shape - in this case covered with a leaf for freshness. Many types of Japanese traditional sweets are made with mochi: daifuku is a soft round mochi stuffed with sweet filling such as bean paste.

Ramen is a Japanese noodle dish with origins in China. It is served in a meat based broth usually pork and often flavored with soy sauce or miso. Ramen is topped off woth sliced pork, dried seaweed, green onions and even corn in Hokkaido. Almost every locality in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu ramen of Kyushu to the miso ramen of Hokkaido.

 Rice noodles are made from rice flour and water. However, sometimes other ingredients such as tapioca or corn starch are also added to improve the transparency or increase the chewy texture of the noodles. Rice noodles are most commonly used in the cuisines of East and Southeast Asia and are available fresh or dried, in various shapes and thicknesses. Rice noodles freshly made tend to be far more tender with a distinctive texture.

Sashimi often is the first course in a formal Japanese meal, but can also be the main course, presented with rice and Miso soup in separate bowls. Many Japanese people believe that sashimi, traditionally considered the finest dish in Japanese cuisine, should be eaten before other strong flavors affect the palate. Culinarily, sashimi represents the Japanese cultural appreciation of subtlety.

Shojin Ryori Temple Cuisine - Zen Temple food or "Shojin Ryori" is vegetarian cuisine at its most refined consisting of pickled vegetables, plus a variety of tofu dishes beautifully arranged on lacquerware and an assortment of ceramic plates.

Sake set is a generic term for the flask and cups used to serve sake, the traditional Japanese drink made from rice. Sake sets are commonly ceramic, but may be glass, lacquer and even cedar wood. The flask and cups may be sold individually or as a set. The flask is called a tokuri and the cups are known as shoko in Japanese.

Mochi is a Japanese ricecake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and then molded into various shapes - in this case wrapped with leaves. Ordinarily these sweets are stuffed with bean paste filling.

Yakitori, literally grilled bird, is a Japanese type of kebab made from several bite-sized pieces of chicken meat skewered on a bamboo stick and barbecued, usually over charcoal. Diners ordering yakitori usually have a choice of having it served with simply salt or miso paste. The sauce is applied on the skewered meat and is grilled until delicately cooked. Yakitori is a very popular dish in Japan, many working people grab a yakitori and a beer from yakitori stalls on the way home from work with a beer.

Yokan is a Japanese jellied dessert made of red bean paste and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form and eaten in slices. Yokan also contain chopped chestnuts, persimmons, figs, sweet potato among other seasonal additions.