Author and Metropolis food columnist Yukari Sakamoto reviews the best Japanese cookbooks for the gourmands and oenophiles of Japan.

Tokyo Vege Guide

Space Shower Books

The cover promises something for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who loves vegetables. Packed with vibrant photos, this compact guide showcases about three dozen restaurants divided into three sections: vegetarian and vegan, vegetarian-friendly, and salad spots. It features staples like Ain Soph.Ginza and Nagi Shokudo alongside fresh faces like Revive Kitchen Three Hibiya, making it a go-to for plant-based dining in the city.

Many of the restaurants serve brown rice and colorful vegetable side dishes. Some draw inspiration from Japanese teishoku (set meals), while others take on a more Western influence.The book includes an Indian restaurant, Vege Herb Saga in Ueno; Falafel Brothers in Ebisu for Middle Eastern cuisine; and even a Taiwanese vegetarian spot in Kinshicho. It also introduces a shop for Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and Korean reimen noodles.

The book is in Japanese with a short paragraph describing each restaurant and notes on the photos. Do not let that deter you. The photos of the dishes and restaurant exterior or interior will give readers a general idea of the restaurants. Prices are listed with the photos of the dish. Six local markets are also introduced.

Each restaurant listing includes the name in Japanese and English, address, phone number, hours, holidays, number of seats, closest station and the restaurant’s home page.

Get it on Amazon.jp

Tokyo Stories: A Japanese Cookbook

Tim Anderson

Chef Tim Anderson of Nanban restaurant in London has released his much-anticipated third cookbook, “Tokyo Stories.” There are 90 recipes that cast a wide net including traditional dishes such as tempura, sushi, ramen, yakitori and tempura as well as non-Japanese bites such as pizza, pasta and yakiniku.

The book divides its chapters into sections that begin with a guide to Japanese ingredients and cover various food categories, such as depachika (department store food halls), conbini (convenience stores), home-style cooking, and traditional cuisine. It tailors the recipes for home cooks, using ingredients that are, of course, easy to find in Japan. The recipes are easy to follow with simple instructions.

Preparing omuraisu (omelette rice) traditionally involves putting the rice into the omelette while it’s still in the pan and gently tapping the pan to make the omelette wrap around the rice. Anderson’s version has the ketchup-seasoned rice put onto a plate and simply topped with the omelette. Much easier and it still tastes the same.

Tokyoites will enjoy the introduction to specific restaurants that inspired the recipes like the Totoro choux creme or Ginza Nair for Indian cuisine.

Get it on Amazon.jp

The Concise Guide to Wine and Blind Tasting

Neel Burton

The Japan-EU free trade pact has eliminated 15 percent tariffs on wine imported from Europe so there is no better time to learn about it. This book is a resource that covers the basics of winemaking and viticulture — the vineyards, geography, climate and soils. It also provides precise tips on tasting wines blind to identify their origin and the types of grapes used. Most of the book looks at wine regions from around the world and delves deep into the typicity of the style of wines from that area.

Beginners will be able to glean information on grape varietals and the names of significant producers. Wine aficionados will appreciate the great amount of detail including percentages of plantings in certain regions, differences in the soil types and the effect on wines, and notes on labeling — which vary depending on the country. There is so much information in here from discussions on soil, harvest yields and the history of wine that will even impress savvy wine connoisseurs.

The book guides readers on what to look for when they’re looking at color, acidity, tannins and volatile compounds. The section on wine faults will help readers to better understand why some wines are flawed.

There are even a few appendices with practical information, including website links to major wine regions’ organizations throughout the world. This is a reference book that wine lovers will go back to time and time again.

Get it on Amazon.jp!

–Paperback

–Kindle

If you like Japanese cooking, checkout our Japanese Pickle Recipes!