Ankimo is a type of sashimi made from the liver of anglerfish (see anko on the flora & fauna page). See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Anko Red bean paste. (See azuki bean.) See Wikipedia.

Anpan Sweet bun filled with red bean paste. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Asahi is a company that makes beers and soft drinks. See the official website, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Azuki bean A small red bean used in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cuisine, usually sweetened and boiled into red bean paste, which may be used for soups, breads, sweets, beverages, etc. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Bancha is a kind of sencha, made from course tea leaves. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Bento A cold lunch served in a special Japanese lunchbox that has separate compartments. Usually carried to school by children. (Definition taken from Anime Insider magazine.) See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Bubble tea (which can also go by pearl tea or several other names for different varieties, in both English and Chinese) is a kind of tea invented in Taiwan, which has "boba" (pearls of tapioca or jelly) sitting at the bottom of the cup, which are sucked up through a wide straw, along with the drink itself. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Calpis Calpis water is a type of cultured milk drink. See the official website, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Cha Tea. See Everything2.

Chai is Indian spiced tea. See The Enthusiast's Online Chai Resource, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Daikon is a large, white, carrot-shaped East Asian radish. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Dango Type of dumplings, similar to mochi, often served with three or four on a skewer, along with green tea. Seen in lots of different animes. See also odango (clothing page, under "fashion trends.") See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Dashi A soup stock commonly used in Japanese cooking as a base for miso soup and other things. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Donburi means "bowl," and it can refer to various simmered stews served over rice, as well as to the type of bowl in which such dishes are served. See Wikipedia.

Fugu is the Japanese puffer fish (see flora & fauna page), which you may remember from an episode of the Simpsons. It contains poison, so it requires great care and skill in the preparation, or it could be deadly to eat. See About.com, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Gari Sliced, pickled ginger, usually eaten between dishes of sushi, to cleanse the palate. (Although personally, I like to eat it on my sushi.) See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Gohan Literally "cooked rice," but it also means "food" or "meal" (because rice is such a staple). See Everything2.

Gyokuro is a kind of green tea, which has been refined, made from the choicest leaves, and is considered the best of Japan's teas. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Hanamizake A term used for sake when drunk while viewing cherry blossoms.

Ichigo Strawberry.

Hojicha is made from regular sencha and bancha tea leaves which have been roasted until they turn brown. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Kajitsushu Fruit wine.

Kakigori Shaved ice with syrup of various flavors, a popular summer treat. Basically, think "snow cone in a bowl." See Wikipedia.

Kamaboko Cylindrical cakes of steamed fish-paste. Sliced kamaboko is called Narutomaki. See FishBase, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Kappamaki A kind of sushi roll with cucumber slices. Inspired by the mythical kappa (see mythology page). See Wikipedia.

Katsudon A bowl of rice topped with tonkatsu, egg, and condiments. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Kirin A brand of Japanese beer, named for a mythical beast (see the mythology page). See the official USA Kirin site, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Kome Uncooked rice.

Konpeito A sugar candy which is similar to rock candy, but in the form of small, bumpy spheres. See Wikipedia.

Maccha (or "matcha") is a powdered green tea used in the cha-no-yu ceremony (see culture page). See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Miso shiru Miso soup. Miso is basically soy bean paste, though it comes in a number of varieties which may include various condiments & styles of preparation. Personally, I'm not real interested in miso in and of itself, but it can be good as a soup stock. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Mochi is sticky rice cakes. See About.com, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Mochi ice cream Little balls of ice cream with a mochi coating, sort of. Actually more like just a rice powder coating, I guess. It's interesting. See Mochi Ice Cream, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Momo Peach.

Narutomaki Steamed fish-paste cake (kamaboko), sliced to decorate soup or ramen. The cakes are cylindrical, white with a pink swirl inside. The swirl shape is called uzumaki (see general terminology page). Narutomaki is commonly called simply "naruto," which is also the name of an anime series and its main character, Naruto Uzumaki; his name is a reference to the fish cakes and the spiral inside. See FishBase.

Nori Dried seaweed used for wrapping onigiri or sushi. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Ocha Green tea. See Wikipedia.

Okashi Candy.

Onigiri Rice ball, often triangular-shaped and wrapped in nori. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Osechi-ryori Traditional New Year's foods arranged in a series of lacquered containers. See About.com, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Oyatsu Snack. See Everything2.

Pan Bread.

Pocari Sweat A citrus-flavored sports drink similar to Gatorade. See the official website, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Pocky Biscuit sticks dipped in sauces of various flavors. A popular treat in Japan and among anime fans everywhere. See the official website (Japanese only), Japanese Snacks, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Ramen A type of Chinese noodles which have become popular in Japan (and with college students everywhere). Although Americans are most familiar with the cheap brands, there are plenty of more expensive (and better) varieties. See Japan Guide, TV Tropes, Wikipedia or Everything2.

Ramune A Japanese soft drink with a marble in the neck of the bottle. See official website, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Red bean paste see anko.

Sake Japanese rice wine, also called nihonshu. See eSake, Wikipedia or Everything2.

Sapporo A brand of Japanese beer, named after the city of Sapporo (see the geography page). See the official USA Sapporo site, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Sashimi Sliced raw fish. Many people mistakenly call this sushi. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Senbei Rice crackers. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Sencha is a type of green tea. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Shiruko Red bean soup. See Wikipedia.

Shochu Distilled liquor. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Shoyu Soy sauce. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Soba Can refer to buckwheat, or to buckwheat noodles, of which there are various kinds, including ramen. Can also be made into a kind of tea. See Japan Guide, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Suika Watermelon.

Sumomo Plum; prune.

Sushi Any dish prepared with vinegared rice, which may or may not include raw fish (sashimi). See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Taiyaki Fish-shaped cake commonly filled with red bean paste. See Wikipedia.

Takoyaki Dumplings made from fried octopus. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Tempura A dish of vegetables and seafood fried in a light batter. Originally Portuguese "tempero." See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Tonkatsu Pork cutlet. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Tsingtao A brand of Chinese beer. See its website, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Toro Tuna meat, a common ingredient of sushi.

Tsumami Snack.

Udon A type of wheat-based noodles. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Ume A type of Asian plum. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Umeshu Plum wine. See About.com or Wikipedia.

Wasabi A spicy condiment often used to garnish Japanese dishes. It may also be mixed with soy sauce to create a dipping sauce, wasabi-joyu. See Real Wasabi, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Watagashi Cotton candy.

Yakisoba Fried soba noodles. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Yakitate Freshly baked.

Yakitori Skewered grilled chicken. See Japan Guide, Wikipedia or Everything2.

Yan Yan Biscuit sticks with sesame seeds, which you dip into frosting. The sticks and frosting are in separate compartments of the same package. See Meiji, Japanese Snacks, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

See also: architecture & establishments and food links