Producers

Essays on the specific producers — farmers, fishermen, makers — whose work shapes Japanese food traditions.

2 articles

On the Importance of Specific Tofu, and the Producers Who Make It

Tofu varies dramatically in quality. The specific producers who make excellent tofu deserve attention because mass-market tofu represents only a fraction of…

Saori Tanaka May 5, 2026 8 min read

Producers

On the Slow Disappearance of Japan's Small Soy Sauce Producers

Japan's small soy sauce producers have declined from thousands to hundreds across recent decades. The decline matters for what Japanese cuisine actually…

Saori Tanaka May 5, 2026 8 min read