Japanese cuisine is so much more than California rolls and the Benihana style of stove-top theatrics that most people are familiar with. And, it’s certainly more than 59-cent ramen noodle packages.
Our bloggers knew better. They embraced the clean taste, style and intricate presentation that is so uniquely and admirably Japanese. And they set their tables to appropriately show off the dishes they made. I encourage you to click through to all the blogs for their unique perspectives, more photos and, of course, the recipes.
Note: We have 3 new bloggers joining us for this leg of our tour. Please give them an especially warm welcome.
Nisrine of Dinners and Dreams is an ex-pat Morrocan living in Orlando, FL. She brings perfectly grilled miso fish skewers as she joins us for the first time.
We’re also happy to welcome Chiara and Stefano from MADrid About Food, 2 Italians living in Madrid and newbie food bloggers. Check out their delicious tuna hot pot.
Norma of Platanos, Mangos + Me! in NY shows us how to make an elegant smoked salmon sushi that’s been pressed in a oshizushi mold.
Val of More Than Burnt Toast in Vancouver made curried Chicken Katsu with a perfectly complementary zesty snap pea salad.
Cinzia of Cindystar in Lake Garda, IT bring us a selection of vegetable tempura. Check her blog for a surprise shrimp tempura. 
Sally of My Custard Pie in Dubai made keema, an Indian dish embraced by Japanese families, and wrote an enchanting post called Tea Ceremonies, Happiness and Keema.
Michelle of On and Off My Plate splits her time between Denver and South Beach. She made sushi for the first time – a spicy tuna roll, one of my favorites. 
Angela from AckyArt in Rome showed off a few souvenirs from Japan that she just received and made Okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake, which she says is referred to as a ‘cook-what-you-like, the-way-you-like-it’ dish.
Oz from Kitchen Butterfly in The Netherlands had a week long love affair with her dish which she chronicles in her post, A Week in the Life of Momofuku’s Ramen, a/k/a The Noodle Diaries. It’s a must-read.
Annette from Torwen in the U.K. gives us a tour of Okazaki along with the history of Nabe (hot pot) and she also made a very good look matcha pudding so I am featuring both. 
Cristina from Tutto a Occhio in Trieste, IT arrived late but I’m squeezing in her bento box so that you can get acquainted with her. She is also new to the tour. Have you ever seen heart-shaped eggs?
And, in case you missed it, FOODalogue made negamaki and daigakuimo.
Personal Note: I will be posting my 365 photo-a-day over the next week from Puerto Rico. If you’d like to take that trip with me too, subscribe to joannova.com (my photo challenge blog) by clicking here. Important…you will receive a return email asking to you to confirm the subscription which will activate the delivery.
Our culinary tour will resume on or about Sunday, February 13 “in” Thailand.
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Looks ridiculously awesome! That tuna ramen soup is MINE MINE MINE…please, may I have some???
as much as I like being busy I would also have liked to submit to this round up – Japanese is one of my super favorites – Everything looks so good.
If only we were feasting at the same table in real time Joan. So many creative dishes each with their own take on Japanese cuisine. Delicious!!!! See you all in Thailand in 2 weeks. I am taking that 2 week 2 culunary tour in Japan I had written about…wink. Wishful thinking.
Great round-up Joan!
You sure are a busy globe-trotter!
LL
this is incredibly interesting Joan.
don’t know much about Japan, so this will be a real pleasure reading, learning and cooking!
that matcha pudding…mmmmmm
baciusss
brii
I will surely learn a lot about Japan cuisine & culture going through every single post, and I appreciate that just a few are featuring raw fish!
thanks to everybody for this lovely trip, I will travel on my own to each of you in the next days, and a big super welcome to the newbies, hope they will join again!
happy puerto rico, joan!!!
Hi, I discovered only today your beautiful blog, I’m an italian foodblogger. I know I’m late but I’ve also posted a japanese recipe on my blog. I would like if you want to go see it. Maybe next time I will in time ^^. Bye bye Kris
Incredibly delicious looking specialties from Japan! I haven’t had or made Japanese food in a while, must fix that soon!
joan, I’m so glad you added kristina to the round up, bento was still missing! she is a lovely companion in WHB, I am sure our posts will criss cross again in future events!
My pleasure.
Thank you Joan, you’re very kind! I am honored to ‘travel’ with you, Hi Cinzia I’ve done ^^. A greeting to all, Kris
What a wonderful array of food and talent representing Japan.
Great round up Joan! Love the dishes here!
Nice to see so many new people joining the tour. Now – not before, I realized this would have been the perfect time for me to practice the sushi making I learned from Chef Yasukawa in Jasper at Christmas in November. Shucks!
Valerie
A great tour………so many different dishes and flavours. Thanks for bringing us all together Joan and enjoy PR
Great to see that you are doing a tour around the world. I am doing a tour around the Mediterranean with my blog.
I missed commenting on this one. I had fun doing this. To all that joined…Great Job!
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