At first glance, Ankake Spaghetti may look like the Italian pasta that Mama used to make, but it’s definitely not like what you’re used to. Give this to an Italian chef and he would probably be horrified that someone is actually calling this “pasta!” Though this style of pasta is definitely unconventional, that doesn’t make it any less delicious. In fact, Ankake Spaghetti is so popular in Nagoya, it’s actually...

Japanese kites are considered some of the most spectacular in the world, appreciated both for their aesthetic value, and as traditional toys. They have many different styles and types of kites, and each region of Japan has its own distinctive shape. Here we have some cicada kites. Thankfully they don’t make the same noise! In Aichi, and more specifically in Nagoya, there is a variety of kites called Nagoya Koryu...

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Japan loves its noodles, or men as it’s called in Japanese. There are all sorts of kinds: Ramen, Somen, Tsukemen, Tantanmen, Ikemen… OK, that last one actually isn’t a type of noodle, but to anyone who knows some Japanese, you might get the joke! Kishimen is part of the Nagoya Meshi, which is the culinary culture of Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. If...

Every February, a rather unique festival is held in the Owari Okunitama Jinja Shrine in Inazawa that would make even your grandmother blush! This festival is known as the Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri or Konomiya Naked Festival, and as the name suggests, men will do the Full Monty as they brave the cold and treat the locals and travelers alike to a display of partial nudity as part of this exceptional...

Chicken wings. Who doesn’t love them? Considering they’re now everywhere in Japan, you might think we are lying if we told you that, in the past, people threw chicken wings away because no one knew how to prepare them. Can you believe it? What a waste! Nowadays, you can find Tebasaki pretty much anywhere in Japan. Tebasaki are chicken wings with a signature peppery spice, are they’re so synonymous with...