Japan has four seasons and each one has its delicacies. We will introduce you to some seasonal ingredients.
Typical spring delicacies include bamboo shoots and the first bonito of the season.(Bamboo shoots are called takenoko.)
In summer, we eat cucumbers and eel. Cucumbers are regarded as a useful vegetable for relieving summer fatigue because they remove body heat.
As the phrase "The autumn, when people have a good appetite" suggests, a wealth of ingredients come into season in autumn. They include persimmons, Pacific saury, and mushrooms.
Popular in winter are cod and giant radishes, which help to warm the body.
Seasonal ingredients are reasonably priced and widely popular because they are available in large quantities. Marine delicacies in season are particularly valued, and the markets come alive with cries such as, "This year's first bonito have arrived!"
