Author: miwako3

FOOD MONTHLY POPULAR

Ramen Reinvented: A Global Journey into Flavor and Culture

miwako3 01/20/2025

In Los Angeles, ramen shops continue to open at a rapid pace this year, with most of them being Japanese-style ramen restaurants. The presence of Japanese ramen culture has truly taken root in America, with more and more people embracing it. Although ramen originated in China, it evolved uniquely after arriving in Japan and has become a beloved dish worldwide.Ramen originally began as a noodle dish in China, but it underwent a transformation when it arrived in Japan. Over time, ramen diversified within Japan, and today, it holds global appeal. The popularity of ramen is spreading rapidly, particularly across the…

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LEARNJAPAN POPULAR TRADITIONAL CULTURE

OMOTENASHI: “Japanese New Year Decorations and Their Origins”

miwako3 01/01/2025

Japanese New Year Decorations and Their Origins In Japan, New Year’s Day (January 1st) is the most important holiday of the year. Similar to Thanksgiving in the United States, families gather to celebrate the start of a new year. As part of these celebrations, special seasonal decorations are prepared. These include shimenawa (sacred ropes made of braided straw), kadomatsu (decorations made of pine and bamboo), and kagami mochi (decorative rice cakes). Each of these has a significant meaning and role, but in this article, we will focus on shimenawa. In Japan, many people follow Shinto (one of Japan’s two main…

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FOOD MONTHLY POPULAR

Holiday Dining “IZAKAYA (Japanese-style pub)”

miwako3 12/27/2024

Perfect Restaurant Choices for Holiday Season Family/Friends Meet-up There are only a few days left in 2024… The holiday season is already here! After the upcoming Christmas celebrations, the New Year 2025 will be here before you know it. We assume that a lot of JapanUp! readers are planning to get together with friends and family at the end of the year. However, when you actually decide on a place, you may find that all the places are booked up and you can’t get in. It happens all the time. To avoid such a situation, let’s get the information early!For…

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