In Japan, washoku is a term used for traditional Japanese food, but washoku also means “the harmony of food” which is the true essence of what traditional Japanese food and cooking is.

In Japanese cuisine, delicious food evolves through the harmony of four main elements: richness and diversity of produce, balanced nutrition, seasonality, and community.

These elements are brought together with skills and knowledge of how the ingredient was raised or grown, how it was processed, how and when to prepare it, the most pleasing way to present the meal, and how to eat it mindfully with appreciation for the harmony of the elements. For centuries, Japanese food and cooking have been the heart and soul of the culture. Culinary traditions have been passed down through families and shared in the communities. Each generation hands the legacy to the next whose duty it becomes to preserve, practice, and pass it along.