The Manga Guide to Japanese Food: A Delightful Look at the History, Ingredients and Folklore of JapanÆs Unique Cuisine

The complete backstory of Japanese cuisine explained in richly illustrated manga style!

This book explores the fascinating history, lore and practice of Japanese cooking through the eyes of Manabu, a young man who aspires to become a professional Japanese chef. Each chapter presents a new set of topics which help the reader to appreciate the great depth and complexity of Japan’s amazing food culture.

Dozens of mini essays with hundreds of charming color illustrations and photos explain:

• The importance of fundamental ingredients like rice, soybeans, seaweed and fish
• The beauty of traditional utensils including lacquer ware, ceramics and knives
• The key role played by fermented ingredients like miso, soy sauce and sake in Japanese cooking
• The history of sushi, which developed from a traditional method of preserving fish
• The concept of ＂umami＂ as one of just seven flavors that can be detected by the human tongue
• How all these elements come together in a multicourse Kyoto-style Kaiseki dinner

Hiroshi Nagashima was born in Yokohama and worked for many years as the director and chef of the Shisui restaurant at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Honganji Temple. In 2013 he was awarded a Yellow Ribbon Medal by the Japanese government and in 2016 he became a Cool Japan Ambassador. In 2019, he received the Order of the Rising Sun, JapanÆs highest civilian honor. He has published many books on Japanese food including Buddhist Cuisine: Making the Most of Vegetables and Dried Fish and Japanese Cuisine: An Encyclopedia of Traditions and Culture. This is his first book in English.