Pan-fried thick udon noodles are similar to chow mein but with Japanese noodles and seasoning. rice.

Toasty, sweet and warm, these root vegetables still in their jackets are tossed over hot coals until their flesh is soft and tender and their natural sugars caramelize.

Another Western practice adopted by the Japanese is the celebration of Valentine's Day, although the gift-giving is in reverse. Women present all the men in their lives with chocolate gifts. Wasabi adds a smooth spiciness to chocolate that men really love.

Take the bitter bite out of raw onions by soaking them in cold water. Sweet onions and wakame seaweed make a delicious salad with a tart miso dressing.

Wafuu means Japanese style and wafuu pasta is Japanese renditions of Italian-type pasta dishes that are very popular in Japan.

A fantastic way to use up leftover mashed potatoes and turkey bits is to make Japanese korokke, breaded and fried potato cakes.

Although sold in cans, this common sweet filling is simple to make using dried beans and sugar.

Toshikoshi means “end of the year” and these buckwheat noodles are eaten on New Year’s Eve to ring out the old year.

Little fried chicken nuggets—Japanese style!

Ramen enjoys a cult-like following in Japan with these three popular noodle soup broths with very different flavors.