Eric C. Rath

Oishii: The History of Sushi unveils the fascinating journey of sushi and sashimi, which have become global sensations, yet remain widely misunderstood. Sushi originally began as a fermented food with a sour taste, primarily used to preserve fish. This book, the first history of sushi written in English, traces its evolution from China to Japan and then across the world,...

Sake, Japan's iconic rice-based alcoholic drink, has been central to Japanese culture for over 1,300 years. Traditionally made with rice, water, and koji mould, it was consumed in early brewpubs and was vital to samurai rituals and festivals. Sake's story includes homebrewers like clan matriarchs, ancient princes, and modern political activists who defied laws to keep homebrewing alive. Temples refined...