I’m Taku, and I write from Japan.
I was born in Kyoto, grew up in Shiga, and currently live in Aichi — though I’m planning to move back to Kyoto before too long. My parents are from Nishijin and the area near Tofuku-ji temple and Fushimi Inari, both in Kyoto.
Home cooking in my family was classic Kyoto style: light on the surface, but with a depth of umami and refinement I didn’t fully appreciate until I moved away from the prefecture. My grandmother, who has since passed away, spoke in Kyoto dialect her whole life, and I still catch myself slipping into it without noticing.
These days I travel around Japan, usually with Kyoto as my reference point, trying regional sweets shops and sake breweries, and comparing what I find against the flavors I grew up with. That’s the lens I bring to reviewing subscription boxes here.
A few specific favorites, if you’re curious: the mizu-manju from Kincho-en Sohonke in Ogaki, Gifu is one of the best I’ve had — cool, barely sweet, exactly the kind of balance I look for in wagashi. I lean toward namagashi (fresh, moist sweets) over anything too sugary; part of what I like about wagashi is that it’s built to be eaten in small amounts, and a good one shows that balance off. On the drinks side, Hakkaisan from Niigata and Dassai from Yamaguchi are both sake I’d recommend without hesitation, and Harushika from Nara is an easy, approachable one I keep coming back to.
Why This Site Exists
Most Japanese snack and subscription box reviews are written by people who’ve never been to Japan and are comparing spec sheets. I live here, so when I compare these boxes, I’m comparing them against what’s actually on the shelf at my local convenience store and department store food hall.
How I Review
I order these boxes myself. When I haven’t personally tried something yet, I say so clearly in the article instead of pretending otherwise.
Affiliate Disclosure
This site earns commissions when you subscribe through some of the links here. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it’s the only way this kind of independent, Japan-based review work stays free for readers. Full disclosure policy here.
Contact
takutoswd@gmail.com