Sake tasting how-to, the angry cat ghost parade & a voyage to Sado Island

Here are the features that came out in the September-October 2021 Japanagram

Hello, friend! It’s me, Jonelle. Here are the features that Japanagram subscribers enjoyed in September/October…

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Japanese home cooking: How to host a great sake tasting

Sake isn’t just for Japanese food anymore—restaurants all over the world are discovering it’s the perfect pairing for all kinds of food. But how do you know what kind of sake you like? Here’s everything you need to know so you can enjoy Japan’s national drink and order like a pro!…read more

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Seasonal Secret: A parade of people dressed up as angry ghost cats? Yes, please!

The Bakeneko Festival gives even those who wouldn’t usually get caught dead in a set of whiskers a chance to let loose their inner ghost cat, and—no surprise!—it’s one of the best parades all year…read more

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Beyond Tokyo: Let’s go to Sado Island, a paradise of bathtub boats, taiko drummers, & spooky Jizo caves

Sado Island is just an hour offshore by hydrofoil, but it used to take a lot longer to get to the place where troublemakers got sent by the powers-that-be. This ruggedly gorgeous spot isn’t your average run-of-the-mill purgatory, though…read more

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The Thing I Learned Today: The 47 Rōnin? The true story is so much crazier than I knew!

You can understand why the tale of the 47 masterless samurai who avenge their lord appeals—righteous grudges, extreme consequences, clever & twisted revenge. It’s definitely got the makings of a killer Netflix series. But the most amazing thing is…read more

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Book Review: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This National Book Award winner is not just for snobby critics—if (like me) you’re a sucker for sweeping generational tales about people who overcome hardship, bad luck and prejudice, and are sympathetic even though flawed, you’re going to love Pachinko…read more

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