Trails to Tsukiji

This program features green tea, a popular Japanese drink with 1,000 years of history. The Japanese enjoy green tea in various occasions in their everyday lives: with meals, at tea breaks during working hours, and even when they have visitors at their homes and offices. Our reporter visits traditional tea stores in Tsukiji, a huge green tea field at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and introduces the traditional process of tea making and tea culture, which is deeply rooted in Japanese society.

This program features Japan's unique food market, Tsukiji, where excellent food is assembled from all over the world, with a special focus on strawberries. Japanese strawberries are referred to as "fruit jewels" thanks to their red, shiny and perfectly shaped appearance. There are some original strawberries such as white ones and gigantic ones. A researcher cultivating new breeds and a chef who invented the ultimate strawberry dessert along with other specialists tell you what is so fascinating about Japanese strawberries.

We focus on"Aji", an extremely popular fish in Japan. Aji can be grilled, fried and even eaten raw as sashimi. Especially highlighted is a type of Aji called Donchitchi, highly recommended by fish specialists. We go to Shimane Prefecture, in western Japan, and discover state-of-the art technologies that monitor and check Donchitchi's fat rate and storage temperature, ensuring the finest quality. You'll also learn various ways in which Aji is deliciously prepared. Come with us on an Aji adventure.

Ise-ebi, or "Japanese spiny lobster", the king of lobster, can cost up to $50 at Tsukiji. To preserve the flavor, ise-ebi must be kept alive until just before cooking. Teamwork between fishermen and wholesalers makes live ise-ebi delivery to restaurants possible. It is said that the ise-ebi's long tentacles represent longevity and that its armor-like body symbolizes the vigor of the samurai. As a symbol of luck, longevity and vigor, ise-ebi is a must for times of celebration.

Thanks to its unique form, fugu is popular not just as food but also for ornamental purposes and art motifs. But despite its good taste and looks, fugu is extremely poisonous. Due to its deadly poison, fugu is traded and cooked only by licensed specialists. Despite the danger, its delicate taste and unique texture are a major attraction for foodies, who eat it as sashimi, tempura and hot pot. Find out why people are in love with this poisonous fish and how the Japanese enjoy it safely.

With 70% of its land covered in forest, Japan is rich in various edible mushrooms. Among them, the mushroom that enjoys the largest amount of trading in Tsukiji is the shiitake. It enjoys worldwide popularity for its low calorie count and healthy properties. Shiitake, a must for Japanese cuisine, is cultivated in several ways. We visit shiitake farmers to learn their very unique farming techniques. We also explore various ways to enjoy one of shiitake's most attractive points, its rich aroma.

Over 80 types of citrus fruits are produced in Japan. Among them, yuzu holds a special place within Japanese cuisine. Since yuzu is quite sour, the fruit is not eaten, instead, the skin and juice is used in cooking. The vivid yellow peel and the fresh strong aroma is essential in spicing up Japanese food. Recently, yuzu has drawn interest from France as well. Beautiful Japanese dishes and ingenious French cuisine will be introduced.

Today, we focus on the Japanese radish, daikon, Japan's most consumed vegetable and an essential part of the country's cuisine. Daikon is used as a main ingredient in salads and stews, as well as to spice up tempura, grilled fish, sashimi and more. We visit a daikon farm to see how it's grown and witness a top Japanese chef use advanced techniques to prepare delectable daikon dishes. Join us as we bite into this satisfyingly crunchy Japanese treat.

Hakusai, also known as Chinese cabbage, is a large vegetable that can weigh up to 3kg. Rich with glutamic acid, hakusai is a winter specialty and a must for hot pot dishes, including a special stew eaten by sumo wrestlers. Hakusai has a light taste that makes it perfect for Japanese, Chinese and even western cuisine. Join us to find out how farmers protect hakusai in the cold winter months and a special technique for pickling this special winter vegetable.

Hamachi, or Japanese yellowtail, is found only in Japanese waters, and is fairly rare worldwide. With its reasonable cost, it's popular as sashimi and sushi. We take a look at the world of farm-raised hamachi, visiting fish farms and discovering what sorts of technologies, feeds and methods are used to give the fish a richness and flavor that's said to be better than that of wild-caught hamachi.

Japan's mountain yams, yamaimo, are an extremely versatile ingredient. Grated, they're enjoyed on rice in a sticky yet delicious paste. When cooked, they take on a range of textures and flavors. On this episode, we visit farmers to discover the labor-intensive methods used to create perfect yams, explore a centuries-old restaurant that offers a variety of traditional yam-based dishes, and even see how they're used to create sweet Japanese confections.

Aori-ika, sometimes called the "king of squid" in Japan, is treasured for its large, 50-centimeter size, beautiful, translucent appearance and sweet, umami-packed flavor. We explore its mysterious lifecycle, the unique shipping methods used to keep it fresh, and how each and every part of the squid is cooked so that nothing goes to waste. Discover aori-ika, a beloved ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

This time, we focus on konnyaku. This jiggly gray ingredient may have subtle flavoring, but it's an essential part of Japanese cuisine, often used in simmered and fried dishes. Konnyaku is high in fiber and low in calories and is popular for dieting. It's even been used recently to make bread, noodles, smoothies, and more. From preparation to consumption, we learn all about konnyaku, which is gaining attention around the world as a superfood.

This time, we feature turnips. There are over 100 kinds produced all over Japan, but Kyoto Prefecture grows the country's largest and is known for a variety used to make pickled turnips. We visit Kyoto to discover traditional turnip cuisine, plus a pickled version made with wisdom passed down through the generations. We also feature an innovative French cuisine that puts the unique texture of turnips front and center. Discover delicious turnips, which pack in sweetness in winter.

From sashimi to sushi to ramen and more, soy sauce is an essential part of Japanese cuisine. With complex, umami-packed flavor and full-bodied aroma, soy sauce is a fermented condiment made possible thanks to microbes. We visit a traditional producer to see how it's made. Plus, we get a look at soy sauce-based ramen and a renowned French chef who uses soy sauce in his dishes.

This program features green tea, a popular Japanese drink with 1,000 years of history. The Japanese enjoy green tea in various occasions in their everyday lives: with meals, at tea breaks during working hours, and even when they have visitors at their homes and offices. Our reporter visits traditional tea stores in Tsukiji, a huge green tea field at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and introduces the traditional process of tea making and tea culture, which is deeply rooted in Japanese society.

This program features Japan's unique food market, Tsukiji, where excellent food is assembled from all over the world, with a special focus on strawberries. Japanese strawberries are referred to as "fruit jewels" thanks to their red, shiny and perfectly shaped appearance. There are some original strawberries such as white ones and gigantic ones. A researcher cultivating new breeds and a chef who invented the ultimate strawberry dessert along with other specialists tell you what is so fascinating about Japanese strawberries.

We focus on"Aji", an extremely popular fish in Japan. Aji can be grilled, fried and even eaten raw as sashimi. Especially highlighted is a type of Aji called Donchitchi, highly recommended by fish specialists. We go to Shimane Prefecture, in western Japan, and discover state-of-the art technologies that monitor and check Donchitchi's fat rate and storage temperature, ensuring the finest quality. You'll also learn various ways in which Aji is deliciously prepared. Come with us on an Aji adventure.

Ise-ebi, or "Japanese spiny lobster", the king of lobster, can cost up to $50 at Tsukiji. To preserve the flavor, ise-ebi must be kept alive until just before cooking. Teamwork between fishermen and wholesalers makes live ise-ebi delivery to restaurants possible. It is said that the ise-ebi's long tentacles represent longevity and that its armor-like body symbolizes the vigor of the samurai. As a symbol of luck, longevity and vigor, ise-ebi is a must for times of celebration.

Thanks to its unique form, fugu is popular not just as food but also for ornamental purposes and art motifs. But despite its good taste and looks, fugu is extremely poisonous. Due to its deadly poison, fugu is traded and cooked only by licensed specialists. Despite the danger, its delicate taste and unique texture are a major attraction for foodies, who eat it as sashimi, tempura and hot pot. Find out why people are in love with this poisonous fish and how the Japanese enjoy it safely.

With 70% of its land covered in forest, Japan is rich in various edible mushrooms. Among them, the mushroom that enjoys the largest amount of trading in Tsukiji is the shiitake. It enjoys worldwide popularity for its low calorie count and healthy properties. Shiitake, a must for Japanese cuisine, is cultivated in several ways. We visit shiitake farmers to learn their very unique farming techniques. We also explore various ways to enjoy one of shiitake's most attractive points, its rich aroma.

Over 80 types of citrus fruits are produced in Japan. Among them, yuzu holds a special place within Japanese cuisine. Since yuzu is quite sour, the fruit is not eaten, instead, the skin and juice is used in cooking. The vivid yellow peel and the fresh strong aroma is essential in spicing up Japanese food. Recently, yuzu has drawn interest from France as well. Beautiful Japanese dishes and ingenious French cuisine will be introduced.

Today, we focus on the Japanese radish, daikon, Japan's most consumed vegetable and an essential part of the country's cuisine. Daikon is used as a main ingredient in salads and stews, as well as to spice up tempura, grilled fish, sashimi and more. We visit a daikon farm to see how it's grown and witness a top Japanese chef use advanced techniques to prepare delectable daikon dishes. Join us as we bite into this satisfyingly crunchy Japanese treat.

Hakusai, also known as Chinese cabbage, is a large vegetable that can weigh up to 3kg. Rich with glutamic acid, hakusai is a winter specialty and a must for hot pot dishes, including a special stew eaten by sumo wrestlers. Hakusai has a light taste that makes it perfect for Japanese, Chinese and even western cuisine. Join us to find out how farmers protect hakusai in the cold winter months and a special technique for pickling this special winter vegetable.

Hamachi, or Japanese yellowtail, is found only in Japanese waters, and is fairly rare worldwide. With its reasonable cost, it's popular as sashimi and sushi. We take a look at the world of farm-raised hamachi, visiting fish farms and discovering what sorts of technologies, feeds and methods are used to give the fish a richness and flavor that's said to be better than that of wild-caught hamachi.

Japan's mountain yams, yamaimo, are an extremely versatile ingredient. Grated, they're enjoyed on rice in a sticky yet delicious paste. When cooked, they take on a range of textures and flavors. On this episode, we visit farmers to discover the labor-intensive methods used to create perfect yams, explore a centuries-old restaurant that offers a variety of traditional yam-based dishes, and even see how they're used to create sweet Japanese confections.

Aori-ika, sometimes called the "king of squid" in Japan, is treasured for its large, 50-centimeter size, beautiful, translucent appearance and sweet, umami-packed flavor. We explore its mysterious lifecycle, the unique shipping methods used to keep it fresh, and how each and every part of the squid is cooked so that nothing goes to waste. Discover aori-ika, a beloved ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

This time, we focus on konnyaku. This jiggly gray ingredient may have subtle flavoring, but it's an essential part of Japanese cuisine, often used in simmered and fried dishes. Konnyaku is high in fiber and low in calories, and is popular for dieting. It's even been used recently to make bread, noodles, smoothies, and more. From preparation to consumption, we learn all about konnyaku, which is gaining attention around the world as a superfood.

This time, we feature turnips. There are over 100 kinds produced all over Japan, but Kyoto Prefecture grows the country's largest, and is known for a variety used to make pickled turnips. We visit Kyoto to discover traditional turnip cuisine, plus a pickled version made with wisdom passed down through the generations. We also feature an innovative French cuisine which puts the unique texture of turnips front and center. Discover delicious turnips, which pack in sweetness in winter.

From sashimi to sushi to ramen and more, soy sauce is an essential part of Japanese cuisine. With complex, umami-packed flavor and full-bodied aroma, soy sauce is a fermented condiment made possible thanks to microbes. We visit a traditional producer to see how it's made. Plus, we get a look at soy sauce-based ramen and a renowned French chef who uses soy sauce in his dishes.