Japan's Cherry Blossom Season

Ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion.

A Japanese rice cake made of mochigome, a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape.

Finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. It is special in two aspects of farming and processing: the green tea plants are shade-grown for about three weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed during processing.

Vinegared rice combined with various ingredients such as seafood, vegetables, and occasionally tropical fruits. Sushi is one of Japan's most iconic dishes and comes in many forms including nigiri, maki, and temaki.