“What are the best Japanese Cookbooks?” We looked at 225 of the top books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 39 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Japanese Cookbook” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 175+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 39 Japanese Cookbooks

39 .) Donabe: Classic and Modern Japanese Clay Pot Cooking by Naoko Takei Moore,Kyle Connaughton

Lists It Appears On:

• Diversivore
• Shelf Joy

Japanese clay pot (donabe) cooking has been refined over centuries into a versatile and simple method for preparing both dramatic and comforting one-pot meals. In Donabe, Tokyo native and cooking school instructor Naoko Takei Moore and chef Kyle Connaughton offer inspiring Japanese home-style recipes such as Sizzling Tofu and Mushrooms in Miso Sauce and Dashi-Rich Shabu-Shabu, as well as California-inspired dishes including Steam-Fried Black Cod with Crisp Potatoes, Leeks, and Walnut-Nori Pesto or Smoked Duck Breast with Creamy Wasabi–Green Onion Dipping Sauce. All are rich in flavor, simple to prepare, and perfect for a communal dining experience with family and friends. Donabe also features recipes from luminary chefs such as David Kinch, Namae Shinobu, and Cortney Burns and Nick Balla, all of whom use donabe in their own kitchens. Collectible, beautiful, and functional, donabe can easily be an essential part of your cooking repetory.

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38 .) Effortless Bento: 300 Japanese Box Lunch Recipes

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Bento books have been some of the more accessible and popular genres coming out of Japan over the last few years, and Effortless Bento is essentially the bento encyclopedia. Filled with hundreds of full-color photos and numerous recipes this is the essential box lunch book.

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37 .) Everyday Bento: 50 Cute and Yummy Lunches to Go by Wendy Thorpe Copley

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

The bento food movement teaches us that foods can be attractive, nutritious, fun and delicious all at the same time. Kids love to try foods that bring a smile to their faces, and will often eat things they wouldn’t otherwise try. For example, they’ll love an adorable bear cub made from brown bread, peanut butter and jelly nestled on a bed of blueberries. Cut watermelon into hearts, and tuck them next to a ham sandwich shaped like ballet slippers for your budding ballerina. Create building bricks from healthy cheese, carrots and cucumbers—or a hot dog octopus, swimming across a sea of cucumber. Picky eaters or not, they’ll try it!

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36 .) Harumi’s Japanese Cooking: More than 75 Authentic and Contemporary Recipes from Japan’s Most Popular Cooking Expert by Harumi Kurihara

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Kyuhoshi

“Cooking expert and lifestyle guru Harumi Kurihara has won over the hearts of Japanese home cooks with her simple, delicious recipes. After selling millions of copies of her cookbooks, magazines, and housewares in her home country, this charismatic former housewife now shares her award-winning kitchen secrets with Americans for the first time.
These elegant, effortless recipes reflect Harumi’s down-to-earth approach to Japanese cooking. Simply written and featuring everyday ingredients, recipes include Pan-Fried Noodles with Pork and Bok Choy, Warm Eggplant Salad, Japanese Pepper Steak, Seafood Miso Soup, and Harumi’s popular Carrot and Tuna Salad, along with a chapter on simple ways to make delectable sushi at home.”

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35 .) Ivan Ramen: Love, Obsession, and Recipes from Tokyo’s Most Unlikely Noodle Joint by Ivan Orkin, Chris Ying

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• The Culture Trip

While scores of people line up outside American ramen powerhouses like Momofuku Noodle Bar, chefs and food writers in the know revere Ivan Orkin’s traditional Japanese take on ramen. Ivan Ramenchronicles Orkin’s journey from dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker to the chef and owner of one of Japan’s most-loved ramen restaurants, Ivan Ramen. His passion for ramen is contagious, his story fascinating, and his recipes to-die-for, including the complete, detailed recipe for his signature Shio Ramen, master recipes for the fundamental types of ramen, and some of his most popular ramen variations.

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34 .) Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional [Simple, Delicious, and Vegan] by Miyoko Nishimoto Schinner

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Kyuhoshi

Japanese and vegetarian food expert Miyoko Nishimoto Schinner presents traditional Japanese dishes and regional specialties from Kyusju in the south to Hokkaido in the north. She draws from a long tradition of vegetarian cooking in Buddhist temples, as well as an abundance of vegetable- and legume-based dishes that can be found in traditional Japanese cuisine. For those dishes that are usually prepared with meat, fish or fowl, Miyoko has created innovative substitutes utilizing tofu, seitan, and other vegetarian foods to create what is truly a unique vegan cookbook.

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33 .) Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen by Naomi Moriyama

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Goodreads

“Japanese-born Naomi Moriyama reveals the secret to her own high-energy, successful lifestyle–and the key to the enduring health and beauty of Japanese women–in this exciting new book. The Japanese have the pleasure of eating one of the most delicious, nutritious, and naturally satisfying cuisines in the world without denial, without guilt…and, yes, without getting fat or looking old.

As a young girl living in Tokyo, Naomi Moriyama grew up in the food utopia of the world, where fresh, simple, wholesome fare is prized as one of the greatest joys of life. She also spent much time basking in that other great center of Japanese food culture: her mother Chizuko’s Tokyo kitchen. Now she brings the traditional secrets of her mother’s kitchen to you in a book that embodies the perfect marriage of nature and culinary wisdom–Japanese home-style cooking.”

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32 .) Kyotofu: Uniquely Delicious Japanese Desserts by Nicole Bermensolo

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Japanese ingredients have long been known for their distinctive tastes and healthy qualities. From the tang of yuzu to the bite of matcha to creaminess of soy, they present a wide range of delicious flavors. In Kyotofu, award-winning baker, Nicole Bermensolo, presents 75 classic American sweets, like cheesecake, brownies, and muffins, combined with Japanese ingredients to create one-of-a-kind desserts. Try recipes like Green Tea White Chocolate Cupcakes, Black Sesame Caramel Mousse, Kinako Waffles, and Nashi Pear Crumble.

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31 .) Let’s Cook Japanese Food: Everyday Recipes for Authentic Dishes by Amy Kaneko

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Shelf Joy

“Yum!” thought Amy Kaneko when she tasted the Japanese home cooking she’d married into. Even better, turned out it uses easy-to-find ingredients, and she couldn’t believe how simple the techniques are for food this delicious. This terrific cookbook showcases 70 of Amy’s favorite recipes, including Tonkatsu (crispy pork cutlets in a tangy sauce) and Onigiri (cute little rice balls stuffed with salmon). A glossary describes the more unusual ingredients and a source list makes it a snap to find and use Japanese specialties such as daikon, miso, and wasabi. It’s tasty, it’s practical, it’s a wow with family and friends so Let’s Cook Japanese Food!

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30 .) Momofuku by David Chang, Peter Meehan

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• The Culture Trip

Never before has there been a phenomenon like Momofuku. A once-unrecognizable word, it’s now synonymous with the award-winning restaurants of the same name in New York City (Momofuku Noodle Bar, Ssäm Bar, Ko, Má Pêche, Fuku, Nishi, and Milk Bar), Toronto, and Sydney. Chef David Chang single-handedly revolutionized cooking in America and beyond with his use of bold Asian flavors and impeccable ingredients, his mastery of the humble ramen noodle, and his thorough devotion to pork.

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29 .) Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking by Masaharu Morimoto

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Culinary rock star Masaharu Morimoto’s cooking has distinctive Japanese roots, yet it’s actually, as the chef calls it, “global cooking for the 21st century.” Morimoto’s unique cuisine is characterized by beautiful Japanese color combinations and aromas, while the preparation infuses multicultural influences such as traditional Chinese spices and simple Italian ingredients, presented in a refined French style. Bringing all these elements home, with helpful step-by-step instructions and gorgeous photography, this accessible book explains Chef Morimoto’s cooking techniques and plating philosophies and brings Japanese cooking to your own home.

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28 .) Nanban: Japanese Soul Food by Tim Anderson

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• The Culture Trip

Ramen, gyoza, fried chicken, udon, pork belly buns, and other boldly flavored, stick-to-your ribs dishes comprise Southern Japanese soul food. The antidote to typical refined restaurant fare, this hearty comfort food has become popular in the US as street food and in ramen bars. In a unique package that includes a cool exposed binding, Nanban brings home cooks the best of these crave-inducing treats. From pungent kimchi to three types of Japanese fried chicken, and with a primer on Japanese ingredients and substitutions, Nanban is the perfect cookbook for any lover of Asian food.

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27 .) Okinawa Diet: Recipe Book, Cookbook, Companion Guide by Wade Migan

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Cookbook List

The original book, “Okinawa Diet” by Wade Migan, was written to give you all the information you need before starting the Okinawa diet, which is known for its tremendously positive effect on life expectancy and vitality. This book contains recipes that follow the guidelines laid out in that book. If you already have a strong understanding of how this diet can affect your health, then you can begin here. In this book, you’ll find handy Okinawa recipes for all four of the categories: Featherweight, Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight. The recipes are perfect for those who want to slowly migrate to an Okinawa diet or even those who have been following the diet for decades. We wish you exciting days ahead with over 50 recipes to choose from in this book!

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26 .) Ramen at Home: The Easy Japanese Cookbook for Classic Ramen and Bold New Flavors by Brian MacDuckston

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• She Knows

Every bowl of ramen is filled with warm broth, hearty noodles, and the savory taste of comfort. But between complicated recipes and hard-to-find ingredients, many ramen lovers settle for the instant alternatives to get their fix. Ramen at Home offers simple, step-by-step recipes for authentic and creative homemade ramen. With over 100 recipes for broths, noodles, side dishes, and toppings, this cookbook makes it easy to enjoy real ramen any night of the week.

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25 .) Simply Ramen: A Complete Course in Preparing Ramen Meals at Home by Amy Kimoto-Kahn

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Author Amy Kimoto-Kahn shows you how to put together a bowl of piping hot ramen in a myriad of ways with a choice of four soup bases, ramen noodles (homemade or store-bought), and traditional and non-traditional ingredients. Enjoy bowls of pork, chicken, and beef ramen. Or branch out with seafood, vegetarian, and spicy soups–and even cold ramen and a breakfast version topped with bacon and a poached egg. Make your soup base in advance and you have a quick, easy, and special midweek family meal.

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24 .) Sushi For Dummies by Judi Strada, Mineko Takane Moreno

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

From rolling sushi properly to presenting it with pizzazz, this book has everything you need to know to impress your friends with homemade maki-sushi (rolls) and nigiri-sushi (individual pieces). You’ll find over 55 recipes from Tuna Sushi Rice Balls to Rainbow Rolls, plus handy techniques to demystify the art of sushi making – and make it fun!

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23 .) The Complete Guide to Sushi and Sashimi: Includes 625 step-by-step photographs by Jeffrey Elliot, Robby Cook

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

“Sushi isn’t tricky to make so long as you have the right utensils and instructions, and have the patience to get acquainted with the various techniques. All it takes is some practice and in no time at all, you’ll be making sumptuous sushi that will wow family and friends.

This incredible book provides all the information needed to get started–from ingredients and knives, to equipment, fish butchery, and plating techniques, making perfect rice and so much more.”

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22 .) The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving: Elegant Garnishes for All Occasions by Hiroshi Nagashima

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Japanese cuisine is renowned for the beauty of its presentation. Among the key elements in this presentation style are mukimono–the decorative garnishes and carvings that add the final flourish to a dish. It might be a carrot round in the shape of a plum blossom. Or a scattering of cherry blossoms plucked from a radish. Perhaps a swallow, a butterfly, a ginkgo leaf or a cluster of pine needles. Whatever the motif, it will have been created to delight the eye and the palate with its shape, color, and taste.

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21 .) The Japanese Kitchen: 250 Recipes in a Traditional Spirit by Hiroko Shimbo

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Goodreads

In this comprehensive IACP Award-nominated cookbook, Hiroko Shimbo gently and authoritatively demystifies Japanese cuisine for Western cooks. In Part One, Shimbo offers up an extended cooking-school lesson in Japanese ingredients, cooking methods, and implements, with ample advice on easy-to-find substitute ingredients and shortcut techniques. This first part also has all the basic recipes for sauces, stocks, dressings, and relishes, plus time-tested secrets of rice and noodle cookery, all of which give readers the skills to improvise and create their own Japanese meals. In Part Two, Shimbo serves up a stunning feast of Japanese dishes, from updated classics of the traditional repertoire to her own delectable creations. Here are scrumptious appetizers like Tempura Pancakes and Salmon and Vegetables in a Sweet Vinegar Marinade, clear and delicate miso soups, hearty yet refined chicken, duck, and meat entrées, delicious fish and shellfish preparations, and lots of Japan’s famous sushi, rice-bowl, and noodle-bowl dishes. A chapter on the fine art of Japanese desserts rounds out the banquet. This is an indispensable book for both aficionados and home cooks eager to learn more about Japanese cuisine.

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20 .) The Sake Handbook: All the information you need to become a Sake Expert! by John Gauntner

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Author John Gauntner is recognized as the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert. A longtime Japan resident, he is well known among sake brewers and others within the sake industry. He wrote the Nihonshu Column in the Japan Times for many years before writing a weekly column on sake in Japanese for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s and the world’s most widely distributed Japanese newspaper. In 2006, John received the Sake Samurai award. He has published five books on sake including Sake Confidential

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19 .) Tokyo Cult Recipes by Maori Murota

Lists It Appears On:

• Nezo Books
• Shelf Joy

The third book in the Cult Recipes series, following New York and Venice, Tokyo Cult Recipes demystifies Japanese food, making the city’s classic recipes easy to try at home. There are over 100 rrecipes for miso, sushi, soba noodles, bentos, sushi, fried rice, Japanese tapas, desserts, cakes and sweets; plus features on the key basic cooking techniques and key ingredients, with step-by-step shots for making rice, dashi, miso and sushi. The book also includes beautiful imagery of food markets in Tokyo, Tokyo street scenes, Japanese kitchen interiors, and Japanese food makers and producers.

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18 .) Yum-Yum Bento Box: Fresh Recipes for Adorable Lunches by Maki Ogawa, Crystal Watanabe

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

Learn how to craft your favorite foods into a variety of shapes—from caterpillars, cars, and puppy dogs to pretty flowers, princesses, and kitty cats to make the yummy, healthy lunches that are all the rage in Japan. Featuring chapters on Cuties & Critters, Fairy-Tale Friends, and Special Day Treats, plus a handy shopping guide, easy recipes for mini snacks, general tips and tricks, and so much more, Yum-Yum Bento Box is the perfect guide for beginner bento makers and expert chefs alike. Stop wasting money on pre-packaged lunches—and start making beautiful, healthy bentos!

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17 .) Yummy Kawaii Bento: Preparing Adorable Meals for Adorable Kids by Li Ming Lee

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy

“Packing school lunches for fussy children can be a chore. Parents are bored of making the same old soggy sandwiches every day, and your picky eaters don’t even show any appreciation when they return their lunchboxes with uneaten veggies and scrappy bits. What if you could entice your children to eat balanced lunches every day? Even better: how do you transform the routine of unoriginal packed lunches into a joy for yourself?

Inspired by the Japanese tradition of the bento box—a home-packed meal served in a box with compartments containing different foods—Yummy Kawaii Bento reinvents the concept of the stale packed lunch. Learn to make your very own creative bento boxes and turn the law of “don’t play with your food” on its head by reimagining dishes as colorful cartoon characters.”

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16 .) Everyday Harumi by Harumi Kurihara

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Nezo Books
• The Culture Trip

“Harumi Kurihara, Japan’s most famous cookbook writer, selects her favorite ingredients and presents 70 new home-style recipes for you to make for family and friends.
In Everyday Harumi, Harumi Kurihara, Japan’s most popular cookbook writer, selects her favorite foods and presents more than 60 new home-style recipes for you to make for family and friends. Harumi wants everyone to be able to make her recipes and she demonstrates how easy it is to cook Japanese food for every day occasions without needing to shop at specialist food stores.
Arranged by her favorite ingredients, Harumi presents recipes for soups, starters, snacks, party dishes, main courses and family feasts that are quick and simple to prepare, all presented in her effortless, down-to-earth and unpretentious approach to sylish living and eating. Every recipe is photographed and includes beautiful step by step advice that show key Japanese cooking techniques, such as chopping skills or how to serve rice. Texture and flavor are important to Japanese food and Harumi takes you through the basic sauces you can make at home and the staples you should have in your store cupboard.”

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15 .) Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook

Lists It Appears On:

• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books
• She Knows

Japanese pubs, called izakaya, are attracting growing attention in Japan and overseas. As a matter of fact, a recent article in The New York Times claimed that the izakaya is starting to shove the sushi bar off its pedestal. While Japan has many guidebooks and cookbooks, this is the first publication in English to delve into every aspect of a unique and vital cornerstone of Japanese food culture.

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14 .) Japanese Cooking Made Simple: A Japanese Cookbook with Authentic Recipes for Ramen, Bento, Sushi & More by Salinas Press

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• She Knows
• Village Bakery

Japanese Cooking Made Simple contains more than 100 easy-to-follow authentic Japanese recipes with ingredients you can find in your local grocery store. Sushi and bento boxes will become part of your weeknight meals, as will Ramen with Braised Pork Belly, Tempura Soba, Fried Tofu in Broth, California Rolls, Pan-Broiled Salmon with Scallions, Chicken Yakitori, and Green Tea Ice Cream. Step-by-step instructions and illustrations will have you preparing sushi, including norimaki and temaki, with ease. Color photos help you put a beautiful Japanese dish on the plate.

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13 .) Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking by Masaharu Morimoto

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Shelf Joy
• Village Bakery

“The revered Iron Chef shows how to make flavorful, exciting traditional Japanese meals at home in this beautiful cookbook that is sure to become a classic, featuring a carefully curated selection of fantastic recipes and more than 150 color photos.

Japanese cuisine has an intimidating reputation that has convinced most home cooks that its beloved preparations are best left to the experts. But legendary chef Masaharu Morimoto, owner of the wildly popular Morimoto restaurants, is here to change that. In Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking, he introduces readers to the healthy, flavorful, surprisingly simple dishes favored by Japanese home cooks.”

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12 .) Preserving the Japanese Way: Traditions of Salting, Fermenting, and Pickling for the Modern Kitchen by Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Diversivore
• Shelf Joy

Preserving the Japanese Way: Traditions of Salting, Fermenting, and Pickling for the Modern Kitchenoffers a clear road map for preserving fruits, vegetables, and fish through a nonscientific, farm- or fisherman-centric approach. An essential backdrop to the 125 recipes outlined in this book are the producers and the artisanal products used to make these salted and fermented foods. The more than 350 arresting photos of the barrel maker, fish sauce producer, artisanal vinegar company, 200 hundred-year-old sake producer, and traditional morning pickle markets with local grandmas still selling their wares document an authentic view of the inner circle of Japanese life. Recipe methods range from the ultratraditional— Umeboshi (Salted Sour Plums), Takuan (Half-Dried Daikon Pickled in Rice Bran), and Hakusai (Fermented Napa Cabbage)— to the modern: Zucchini Pickled in Shoyu Koji, Turnips Pickled with Sour Plums, and Small Melons in Sake Lees. Preserving the Japanese Way also introduces and demystifies one of the most fascinating ingredients to hit the food scene in a decade: koji. Koji is neither new nor unusual in the landscape of Japan fermentation, but it has become a cult favorite for quick pickling or marinades. Preserving the Japanese Way is a book about community, seasonality as the root of preserved food, and ultimately about why both are relevant in our lives today.

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11 .) The Manga Cookbook: Japanese Bento Boxes, Main Dishes and More! by The Manga University Culinary Institute,Chihiro Hattori

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• She Knows
• Shelf Joy

From the kitchens of the Manga University Culinary Institute comes the critically acclaimed “The Manga Cookbook,” a fully illustrated step-by-step guide to making the same sorts of foods you see in your favorite manga and anime series — including popular bento (boxed lunch) recipes!

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10 .) Japanese Hot Pots: Comforting One-Pot Meals by Tadashi Ono,Harris Salat

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books
• Shelf Joy

Wholesome, delicious Japanese comfort food, hot pot cooking satisfies the universal desire for steaming, gratifying and hearty meals the whole family can enjoy. In Japanese Hot Pots, chef Tadashi Ono and food journalist Harris Salat demystify this communal eating tradition for American home cooks with belly-warming dishes from all corners of Japan. Using savory broths and healthy, easy-to-find ingredients such as seafood, poultry, greens, roots, mushrooms, and noodles, these classic one-pot dishes require minimal fuss and preparation, and no special equipment—they’re simple, fast recipes to whip up either on the stove or on a tableside portable burner, like they do in Japan.

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9 .) Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions by Elizabeth Andoh

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Diversivore
• Goodreads
• Nezo Books

“The celebration of Japan’s vegan and vegetarian traditions begins with kansha—appreciation—an expression of gratitude for nature’s gifts and the efforts and ingenuity of those who transform nature’s bounty into marvelous food. The spirit of kansha, deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy and practice, encourages all cooks to prepare nutritionally sound and aesthetically satisfying meals that avoid waste, conserve energy, and preserve our natural resources.

In these pages, with kansha as credo, Japan culinary authority Elizabeth Andoh offers more than 100 carefully crafted vegan recipes. She has culled classics from shōjin ryōri, or Buddhist temple cuisine (Creamy Sesame Pudding, Glazed Eel Look-Alike); gathered essentials of macrobiotic cooking (Toasted Hand-Pressed Brown Rice with Hijiki, Robust Miso); selected dishes rooted in history (Skillet-Scrambled Tofu with Leafy Greens, Pungent Pickles); and included inventive modern fare (Eggplant Sushi, Tōfu-Tōfu Burgers). “

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8 .) Takashi’s Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi, Harris Salat

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books
• The Culture Trip

Combining traditional Japanese influences, French technique, and more than 20 years of cooking in the Midwest, James Beard Award-winning chef Takashi Yagihashi introduces American home cooks to essential Japanese comfort food with his simple yet sophisticated recipes. Emphasizing quick-to-the-table shortcuts, the use of fresh and dried packaged noodles, and kid-friendly dishes, Takashi explains noodle nuances and explores each style’s distinct regional identity. An expert guide, Takashi recalls his youth in Japan and takes cooks on a discovery tour of the rich bounty of Japanese noodles, so readily accessible today. Takashi’s exuberance for noodles ranging from Aje-Men to Zaru is sure to inspire home cooks to dive into bowl after soothing, refreshing bowl.

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7 .) Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen by Elizabeth Andoh

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Diversivore
• Familynan
• Goodreads

In 1975,Gourmet magazine published a series on traditional Japanese food —the first of its kind in a major American food magazine — written by a graduate of the prestigious Yanagihara School of classical cuisine in Tokyo. Today, the author of that groundbreaking series, Elizabeth Andoh, is recognized as the leading English-language authority on the subject. She shares her knowledge and passion for the food culture of Japan in WASHOKU, an authoritative, deeply personal tribute to one of the world’s most distinctive culinary traditions. Andoh begins by setting forth the ethos of washoku (traditional Japanese food), exploring its nuanced approach to balancing flavor, applying technique, and considering aesthetics hand-in-hand with nutrition. With detailed descriptions of ingredients complemented by stunning full-color photography, the book’s comprehensive chapter on the Japanese pantry is practically a book unto itself.

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6 .) Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art by Shizuo Tsuji

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Goodreads
• Nezo Books
• Shelf Joy
• Village Bakery

“When it was first published, Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art changed the way the culinary world viewed Japanese cooking, moving it from obscure ethnic food to haute cuisine.

Twenty-five years later, much has changed. Japanese food is a favorite of diners around the world. Not only is sushi as much a part of the Western culinary scene as burgers, bagels, and burritos, but some Japanese chefs have become household names. Japanese flavors, ingredients, and textures have been fused into dishes from a wide variety of other cuisines. What hasn’t changed over the years, however, are the foundations of Japanese cooking. When he originally wrote Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art, Shizuo Tsuji, a scholar who trained under famous European chefs, was so careful and precise in his descriptions of the cuisine and its vital philosophies, and so thoughtful in his choice of dishes and recipes, that his words–and the dishes they help produce–are as fresh today as when they were first written.”

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5 .) Sushi: Taste and Techniques by Kimiko Barber, Hiroki Takemura

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Cookbook List
• Familynan
• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books

This title provides an invaluable guide to sushi etiquettte and customs and includes a unique fish identification guide, which details over 20 kinds of fish and shellfish and how to prepare them.

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4 .) The Japanese Grill: From Classic Yakitori to Steak, Seafood, and Vegetables by Tadashi Ono,Harris Salat

Lists It Appears On:

• Diversivore
• Goodreads
• Kyuhoshi
• She Knows
• Shelf Joy

In the first comprehensive introduction to Japanese cooking for the U.S. market in two decades, Hiroko Shimbo Beitchman gently and authoritatively demystifies for Western cooks this elegant and tasty cuisine.

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3 .) Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Diversivore
• Kyuhoshi
• She Knows
• Shelf Joy
• The Culture Trip

Japanese Farm Food offers a unique look into life on a Japanese farm through 165 simple, clear-flavored recipes along with personal stories and over 350 stunning photographs. It is a book about love, community, and life in rural Japan. Nancy Singleton Hachisu’s second book, Preserving the Japanese Way, nominated for the 2016 James Beard Award in the International Cookbook category, takes a deeper look into the techniques, recipes, and local producers associated with Japanese preserving.

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2 .) Japanese Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Tempura, and More from the Streets and Kitchens of Tokyo and Beyond by Tadashi Ono & Harris Salat

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Diversivore
• Familynan
• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books
• She Knows
• Shelf Joy
• The Culture Trip
• Village Bakery

In Japanese Soul Cooking, Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat introduce you to this irresistible, homey style of cooking. As you explore the range of exciting, satisfying fare, you may recognize some familiar favorites, including ramen, soba, udon, and tempura. Other, lesser known Japanese classics, such as wafu pasta (spaghetti with bold, fragrant toppings like miso meat sauce), tatsuta-age (fried chicken marinated in garlic, ginger, and other Japanese seasonings), and savory omelets with crabmeat and shiitake mushrooms will instantly become standards in your kitchen as well. With foolproof instructions and step-by-step photographs, you’ll soon be knocking out chahan fried rice, mentaiko spaghetti, saikoro steak, and more for friends and family.

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1 .) The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches To Go by Makiko Itoh

Lists It Appears On:

• Cookbook List
• Familynan
• Goodreads
• Kyuhoshi
• Nezo Books
• She Knows
• Shelf Joy
• The Culture Trip
• Village Bakery

Bento fever has recently swept across the West, fuelled not just by an interest in cute, decorative food, but by the desire for an economical, healthy approach to eating in these times of recession. A leading light in the popularization of bento has been Makiko Itoh, whose blog, Just Bento, boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers, all of whom love her delicious recipes and practical bento-making tips.

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