Today we focus on mochi rice cake, an indispensable part of Japanese New Year's celebrations. It's offered to the gods and eaten in traditional Zoni soup as families pray for a healthy and safe new year. The ingredients found in Zoni can differ greatly depending on the region and family. Learn about mochi's rich history and culture, and how families of years past used to prepare it. Also, feast your eyes on some of the hundreds of mochi recipes from Iwate Prefecture.

Ame – Japanese candy – is seemingly simplistic sugar candy that can be found in a variety of flavors, textures and shapes. It's also an important part of Japanese tradition and culture. Visit a Tokyo shrine where it's handed out to kids as a symbol of healthy growth, and check out some jaw-dropping, crafty production methods. Ame can also be used in savory dishes! Feast your eyes on new wave sukiyaki enhanced by cotton candy!

In Japan, food has long symbolized prosperity, playing a key role in annual festivities. Mochi rice cakes bring fortune in the New Year while azuki red beans ward off evil spirits. Takenoko bamboo shoots grow quickly, symbolizing success, and candies handed out to children bless them with a healthy future. Tour the country with us on a recap of some of Japan's most important foods and the special meaning behind them.

Kuzu plays a key role in Japanese cuisine, from savory to sweet. The starch can be mixed in hot water to form a clear jelly, or used to thicken sauces and soups. The raw material is found deep in the mountains. Our journey takes us from harvest to factory, detailing a long process that remains largely unchanged for over 200 years. Feast your eyes on exquisite food featuring kuzu, an unsung hero of Japan's culinary culture.

Himono, or dried fish, is a product of Japan's long history as an island nation blessed with seafood. Armed with wisdom from the past, preservation methods have evolved to enhance flavor. How does it get so juicy and packed with umami? Visit a key production area to see artisans at work, and feast your eyes on himono dishes that are reinventing the wheel.