Ramen noodles, a divine religious experience in Japan with followers congregating in houses of worship called ramenya (ramen shop) to perform acts of praise, honour and devotion to hand-crafted noodles and accompaniments in an intensely flavourful broth.

Ippudo (一風堂) is a reputable franchise for quality noodling in the Fukuoka tradition. First opened in Hakata in 1985 with a counter seating capactiy of 10, Ippudo has grown to 34 locations throughout Japan with outposts in New York and Singapore. Shigemi Kawahara, who earned the title of Ramen King in 2005 when he was named Japan’s top Ramen Chef, directs and oversees this well known entity.

Ippudo Ramen Ebisu

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Tsukimi (月見) or Otsukimi, the custom of honoring the autumn moon, has had a long history in Japan. Meaning “moon viewing”, it is the autumn counterpart of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) which is conversely observed during spring. Originating as a religious observance of farmers praying for a plentiful harvest, today the season of tsukimi is a mid-autumn festival held in appreciation of the harvest moon involving moon viewing parties where revellers gather outside in celebration to witness the full moon.

The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the old lunar calendar, which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. Known as jugoya (full moon night) or chushu no meigetsu (beautiful mid-autumn moon), this is when the moon is at its fullest and roundest. Following are a few traditions that relate to the celebration of the mid-autumn harvest moon.

Tsukimi Dango

Tsukimi Dango are Japanese dumplings made from mochiko (rice flour) and are traditional food for Jugoya moon viewing. Rolled into moon-shaped, bite-sized balls, they are boiled or steamed and are usually presented in a pyramid-shaped pile. Along with taro and pampas grass, these little dumplings are traditionally offered to the full moon on the most auspicious moon-viewing day.

Tsukimi Soba

Tsukimi Soba (“moon-viewing soba”) are thin noodles made from buckwheat flour and served in hot broth as a noodle soup and garnished with nori (seaweed) and a raw egg that poaches in the hot soup. The buckwheat noodle resemble the sky at night whilst the egg yolk represents the moon surrounded by a thin milky egg white cloud floating freely in the sky.

Tsukimi Burger

Each year McDonald’s in Japan releases a popular limited time menu item, the Tsukimi Burger (月見バーガー, literally moon-viewing burger), which is available only during Autumn. The Tsukimi Burger is a hamburger that contains a poached egg with the yolk representing the moon on an egg white sky, a hamburger patty, bacon and a special teriyaki-like sauce.

Susuki

Susuki (also known as Japanese pampas grass, Japanese silver grass or Eulalia), is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. During the celebration of tsukimi, vases filled with flower arrangements using susuki, which comes into ears by this season, and other autumnal herbs are offered to the full moon on Jugoya as a symbol of thankfulness for the harvest.

Satoimo

Satoimo (also known as taro) is a tropical root that has a strong association with tsukimi as it is at its best at this time of the year. It had been introduced to Japan from southern China and Southeast Asia, and was a regular part of the Japanese diet. In the eighteenth century, regular offerings to the moon and gods included boiled satoimo, and Otsukimi also became known as imo-meigetsu, or taro moon.

Moon Rabbit

Rabbits are always connected with the moon in Japan. In Japanese folklore the Moon Rabbit is a rabbit that lives on the moon making mochi (rice cake) based upon markings on the moon, that observers perceive in the bright disc of the full moon, that look like a rabbit pounding in a mortar and pestle. The Western perception is that there is a man in the moon based upon an imaginary figure resembling a human face.

A list of ten tasty traditional-style Japanese cuisine that are a must try when travelling in Japan.

1. Yakitori 「焼き鳥」

Skewered chicken pieces that are grilled over hot charcoals.

2. Sukiyaki 「すき焼き」

Thinly sliced beef and vegetables simmered in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar and mirin.

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