Wagashi is commonly translated as "Japanese sweets or confections." Wa denotes all things Japanese, and gashi originates from kashi, or okashi, which refers to all confections. This book, "The Art of Wagashi, Recipes for Japanese Sweets that Delight the Palate and the Eyes," is dedicated to A. D. Moore (1931-2013), Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who was a mentor and great supporter of Japan House (a cultural teaching center at the University of Illinois). Professor Moore (or Doyle-sensei, as we fondly called him) was a man of versatility with a wealth of knowledge. He was a kind and warm-hearted person, forever curious, who possessed "doshin," a child-like kokoro (kokoro is a Japanese word encompassing multiple meanings including "mind," "heart," and "spirit."). One of the things he shared with so many people was how to make wagashi, which he learned first-hand by visiting a Japanese wagashi shop in Japan many years ago. With his instruction, several of Japan House's students learned the basic techniques and made wagashi for tea classes. Doyle-sensei often discussed writing a wagashi book in English so that people outside of Japan could make authentic wagashi to enjoy with a bowl of tea. Regrettably, his dream did not come true while he was on this earth, but his legacy has been passed down to many generations. Professor Emeritus Kimiko Gunji embarked upon writing this book in honor of Doyle-sensei five years ago, and finally, we feel ready to present this cookbook to all of those who love wagashi. The recipes in this book have been carefully crafted for genuineness. Each recipe has been tested and refined by experienced sweet makers. Other notable features of this book are that all of the ingredients are easily purchased in the United States, and that the final products are authentic in taste and appearance. It is Professor Gunji's greatest hope that all of you who make wagashi according to the recipes in this book will enjoy these treats not only with the palate, but with all senses.

A visual guide to hundreds of Japanese confections, with historical information. Text in Japanese and English.

Patterns for 20 handcrafted projects, each an exquisite accessory and a tiny work of art, are provided in this step-by-step guide. The centerpiece of the handbook is a range of stunning fabric jewelry--necklaces, bracelets, and earrings--crafted from silks or cottons complemented by a colorful decorative cord that is woven or knotted into unique designs, called "kumihimo," Instructions are provided for several unusual craft techniques including Japanese knotwork, Delica beading, and fabric origami, each with color drawings and step-by-step directions. Projects are accompanied by color photographs evocative of contemporary Japanese style, and every chapter opens with a wonderful original watercolor by the author, as well as text providing reflections on Japanese life and art.

New York City-based writer and illustrator Williamson shares discoveries about Japan and its culture based on a recent year spent in Kyoto as a postgraduate student. The text combines the author's colorful illustrations with brief descriptions presented in a script-style text. The end result is a charming, journal-like publication in which Williams

From Cherry Blossom Rice Cakes to Mochi Dusted with Green Soy-bean Flour, home cooks will be transported by the recipes in Machiko Chiba's latest cookbook devoted to Japanese sweets known as wagashi. Traditionally served as part of the tea ceremony, wagashi are finding a place in contemporary cuisines as light, beautifully crafted, elegant desserts. Now, with her easy-to-follow instructions and the patented Cook-Zen microwave pot, anyone can make wagashi in minutes.

A collection of imaginative (and even humorous) illustrations of hell and other underworld realms in Japanese art works. A great reference for artists and illustrators.

Elegant representations of nature and the four seasons populate a wide range of Japanese genres and media—from poetry and screen painting to tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, and annual observances. In Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons, Haruo Shirane shows how, when, and why this practice developed and explicates the richly encoded social, religious, and political meanings of this imagery. Refuting the belief that this tradition reflects Japan's agrarian origins and supposedly mild climate, Shirane traces the establishment of seasonal topics to the poetry composed by the urban nobility in the eighth century. After becoming highly codified and influencing visual arts in the tenth and eleventh centuries, the seasonal topics and their cultural associations evolved and spread to other genres, eventually settling in the popular culture of the early modern period. Contrasted with the elegant images of nature derived from court poetry was the agrarian view of nature based on rural life. The two landscapes began to intersect in the medieval period, creating a complex, layered web of competing associations. Shirane discusses a wide array of representations of nature and the four seasons in many genres, originating in both the urban and rural perspective: textual (poetry, chronicles, tales), cultivated (gardens, flower arrangement), material (kimonos, screens), performative (noh, festivals), and gastronomic (tea ceremony, food rituals). He reveals how this kind of "secondary nature," which flourished in Japan's urban architecture and gardens, fostered and idealized a sense of harmony with the natural world just at the moment it was disappearing. Illuminating the deeper meaning behind Japanese aesthetics and artifacts, Shirane clarifies the use of natural images and seasonal topics and the changes in their cultural associations and function across history, genre, and community over more than a millennium. In this fascinating book, the four seasons are revealed to be as much a cultural construction as a reflection of the physical world.

The past few years have shown a growing interest in cooking and food, as a result of international food issues such as BSE, world trade and mass foreign travel, and at the same time there has been growing interest in Japanese Studies since the 1970s. This volume brings together the two interests of Japan and food, examining both from a number of perspectives. The book reflects on the social and cultural side of Japanese food, and at the same time reflects also on the ways in which Japanese culture has been affected by food, a basic human institution. Providing the reader with the historical and social bases to understand how Japanese cuisine has been and is being shaped, this book assumes minimal familiarity with Japanese society, but instead explores the country through the topic of its cuisine.

Bestselling author Kumiko Sudo creates 45 exquisite handmade gifts in fabric, each with a flair that is uniquely Japanese. Easy-to-follow patterns, beautiful photographs, and colorful step-by-step drawings help the projects come together quickly--many in less than an hour. Whether they are created in kimono silks or in contemporary cottons, these tiny boxes, purses, decorative toys, incense pouches, and good luck charms all make delightful gifts.

Do you have a yearning for unique Japanese desserts that you want to explore? No sweat, you won't need to look too far to find some impressive recipes for these treats! The dainty, sweet confections "wagashi" are in a class to themselves and are different from the cookies and cakes you'll find in European or Western countries. The unique Japanese confections highlighted in the Wagashi Cookbook were made to be served at the traditional tea ceremonies of the country, but they can be eaten anytime you desire. You may be surprised to know that these sweets are very simple to make! The Ingredients for these treasures, such as sticky rice, sweet bean jelly and red bean jam, are easy to prepare. The recipes basically use most of the same ingredients, so once a few are made, it is very easy to make the others. Wagashi treats are fat and butter free which makes them healthier than Western desserts. Oftentimes seasonal fruits are used or fruits found in your own country if that's your preference. Come on, give these treats a try and make them in your own kitchen! Ask your family and friends to sample them for you; I am sure they will love them!