This book is the culmination of a lifetime steeped in two cultures.

Born in Tokyo and raised in New York, Makiko Itoh grew up in the heart of her mother's acclaimed Japanese restaurant, a culinary landmark for over twenty years. Now a celebrated bilingual food writer and translator, she brings a rare perspective—uniquely equipped to bridge the gap and share the soul of Japanese cuisine with the world.

Her book provides answers to all the questions that people usually ask about one of the world's greatest cuisines, including:Why is Japanese food so unique? This book provides a full overview—from aesthetics to umamiEssential ingredients like miso, mirin, dashi, sake and kombu—how and why are they used?How to prepare and serve a Japanese meal—from cookware to tableware and etiquetteWhich recipes are right for you?—the 600 recipes in this book cover everything from sushi to ramen to donburi rice bowls, nukazuke pickles and Japanese bread!Itoh's mission is to demystify Japanese cuisine for non-Japanese home cooks. Her book contains 400 beautiful color photos with clearly-presented recipes interspersed with fascinating essays and sidebars explaining all aspects of Japan's unique food culture. A must-read book for every Japanese food lover!