Trails to Oishii Tokyo

This time, we focus on Konnyaku. This jiggly gray ingredient may have subtle flavoring, but it's an essential part of Japanese cuisine, often used in simmered and fried dishes. Konnyaku is high in fiber and low in calories, and is popular for dieting. It's even been used recently to make bread, noodles, smoothies, and more. From preparation to consumption, we learn all about Konnyaku, which is gaining attention around the world as a superfood.

Miso is a seasoning born of a fermentation process using various bacteria. It's used to make miso soup, a Japanese soul food essential to daily dining. While miso is produced all over Japan, we go to rice-producing Yamagata Prefecture to check out a traditional production method using giant, 100-year-old barrels. A visit to a Zen temple reveals the deep connection between miso and Zen training. In the ancient capital of Kamakura, we introduce inventive dishes that breathe new life into miso.

The most appealing thing about Japanese corn is its fruit-like sweetness. Hokkaido Prefecture's large corn fields are home to many varieties, including one that's soft enough to eat raw, another with kernels as white as snow, and a flint corn with large, rich kernels. In addition, we showcase a popular cornbread people line up for hours to get their hands on, unique French dishes that feature corn's sweetness and texture, and much more.

Fu is a processed, flour-based food eaten in Japan since ancient times. At first glance, it may look like bread, but it has few calories and lots of protein. This mysterious food soaks up umami like a sponge, making it a treasured ingredient in dashi soup stock-based Japanese dishes. Travel with us to an over 400-year-old city lined with beautiful buildings and streets to learn more about the elastic, kaleidoscopic treat called Fu.

Matcha is known worldwide as a popular ingredient in sweets. But originally, matcha is green tea leaves pulverized into micron-sized powder and mixed into hot water to make tea. We visit Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, a place where matcha is traditionally cultivated and produced, and learn how matcha is used in the tea ceremony, which is considered to encapsulate the spirit of Japanese culture and hospitality. Finally, we see how its unique bitterness is used to create a variety of novel dishes.

Gliding across the water on its wing-like fins, the flying fish is one unique creature. We visit Hachijojima, a lush volcanic island that's officially a part of Tokyo, to visit fishermen who work through until dawn to catch this mysterious fish. We also see how it's prepared and eaten in dishes as diverse as sushi, meatballs and even ramen. Finally, we get a glimpse of Hachijojima's rich natural beauty, including hot springs, waterfalls, lava plateaus and even whales.

In Trails to Oishii Tokyo, reporters from around the world discover Japan's best ingredients. This time, fermented foods like katsuobushi, the skipjack tuna flakes used to make dashi soup stock, miso and soy sauce, 2 of Japan's favorite seasonings, tsukemono pickles, a precious food source in harsh winters and sticky natto beans. All these ingredients have helped make Japanese food the world-renowned cuisine it is today. Learn how each is created with methods stretching back generations.

In Trails to Oishii Tokyo, reporters from around the world discover Japan's best ingredients. This time, Japan's environmentally friendly, sustainable fishing methods. From single-line lures to giant fixed nets to nets thrown into rivers to catch freshwater fish, these methods help to preserve Japan's seafood, the pillar of its culinary culture.

Kyoto's cuisine is marked by an interplay between ingredients and seasonality. The city long served as Japan's capital, during which time it developed a unique culinary culture that lives on to this day. That culture includes dining on hamo, a kind of eel, at open-air, riverside restaurants, and feasting on fine vegetables that evolved thanks to Kyoto's distinct terroir. Kyoto's colorful, elaborate cuisine is the basis of fine Japanese cooking. Discover what makes Kyoto so delicious: so "oishii."

On Trails to Oishii Tokyo, reporters from around the world explore Japan's unique ingredients. Often given as gifts, high-end Japanese fruits aren't only delicious, they have the visual appeal of radiant jewels. Researchers and farmers go to great lengths to ensure they're grown to the perfect shape and pigment. Join us on a journey in search of fabulous fruit.

Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan's large northern island, is known for its rich nature and great, Oishii food. Its expansive farmlands, about a quarter of Japan's total, yield fresh produce, while its bountiful seas are home to some of Japan's best seafood, including fish, marine plants and more. And don't forget dairy: Hokkaido is Japan's largest producer! Today, we showcase the best of our Hokkaido trails so far.

Take a close look at unique herbs and spices, from the world-famous wasabi to the recently popular Sansho pepper. These small ingredients have played a massive role in the development of Japanese cuisine over the centuries, not only providing a punch of flavor but even disinfectant properties and health benefits. Join our reporters on a mouth-watering journey into the world of Japan's herbs and spices.

This episode showcases Japan's long history of food preservation and the ingenious methods that have been developed over the centuries. Whether by employing salt, the open air, or a natural fermentation process, careful preservation has allowed for the enjoyment of seasonal delicacies all year round. Dive for hijiki seaweed, try your hand at creating Kamaboko, and feast your eyes on many other household favorites like umeboshi.

Being surrounded by ocean on all sides, Japan has long relied on the ocean for sustenance. Numerous fishing and cultivation methods have been developed over the centuries to ensure the sustainability of such resources. From top quality fish raised on olive leaves and orange peels, to cultivated seaweed and shellfish, learn about several robust methods with our reporters in this special installment of "Trails to Oishii Tokyo," focusing on Japan's fisheries.

Along with renowned gourmet restaurants, Tokyo is also home to many food producers. Urban farms have grown traditional vegetables for centuries. Rooftop beekeeping is made possible by the beautiful flowers found in gardens and parks. The local fishing industry also thrives! This special episode introduces unsung heroes responsible for Tokyo specialties ranging from a world-renowned spice to unforgettable fish delicacies.

Fruit in Japan has evolved in the country's unique climate, shaping into perfect gems that are now recognized worldwide. Some are even referred to by their Japanese names, such as kaki and yuzu. Japanese peaches and pears are known for their impactful juiciness. In this special installment of Trails to Oishii Tokyo, revisit the hard work and ingenuity that goes into cultivating the fruits that have come to be prized the world over.

Silvery-white Shirasu, or baby Japanese anchovies, are caught along Japan's coasts in the spring and fall. Find boiled and dried ones at your local supermarket, or head closer to a fishing port to savor raw Shirasu. Hauls from a Kanagawa port get eaten up locally before they can reach markets in neighboring Tokyo! Join us on a fishing trip to see how Shirasu are processed, and check out a French restaurant that incorporates the ingredient. (Reporter: Kailene Falls)

Bananas - a tropical fruit also grown in Japan. Technological advancement has allowed their cultivation in snowy areas. Visit a plantation in one of Japan's snowiest regions, and check out a wide variety at a wholesaler in Tokyo's Ota Market. See how the ripening process is carefully managed in massive warehouses from the time of import to market release. (Reporter: Janni Olsson)

Honey -- the world's oldest sweetener. Japan being home to both the Western honey bee and the native honey bee makes for numerous honey varieties. Concerned about the decline in global bee populations, urbanites take on rooftop beekeeping in Japan's capital. Also visit beekeeping sites responsible for precious honey varieties that are increasingly at risk. Fly around and discover infinite flavors born of differing environments and flower varieties. (Reporter: Kailene Falls)

Salt isn't just an ingredient in Japan, it's used for purification rituals in sumo and at temples and shrines. It all started with an ancient sea salt extraction process. On the northern shores of the Noto Peninsula, registered as a globally important agricultural heritage system, grab your buckets and get to work collecting sea water! Also feast your eyes on seasonings, preserved foods, flavored salts, and more savory delights unique to Japan. (Reporter: Michael Keida)

Our focus this time is wasabi, the fiery root that is a pillar of Japanese foods like sushi and sashimi. Visit a traditional wasabi field in Shizuoka Prefecture recognized as one of the world's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, try futuristic wasabi dishes, and find out why you most likely need a new wasabi grater! (Reporter: Kyle Card)

Somen: these traditional Japanese noodles are amazingly thin and white. Japan has many noodles, like soba, udon and ramen, but the saga of somen goes back some 1,200 years. We visit Miwa, Nara Prefecture to see how traditional techniques are used to stretch somen again and again over a two-day period to achieve millimeter thinness. We also see how somen works in recipes from curry to Okinawan to even Italian with cheese and tomato sauce. Slurp into the history of somen! (Reporter: Saskia Thoelen)

Shiitake — the star Japanese mushroom known for its strong umami. Visit a farmer who uses centuries-old cultivation methods to conserve the natural surroundings, then head over to our reporter's hometown in Sweden to see how shiitake have grown in popularity overseas. We'll be cooking up all kinds of mushroom dishes, from Scandinavian to French to Japanese. (Reporter: Janni Olsson)

Takenoko, or bamboo shoots, are the flavor of spring. Our reporter Janni is put to work on a steep grove where skill and timing are key to harvesting young stems before they harden in direct sunlight. Afterward, enjoy the various textures and flavors the ingredient adds to exquisite Japanese cuisine, and see how it's used in place of meat in innovative French dishes. (Reporter: Janni Olsson)

Horsehair crabs ― the ones covered with tiny hairs. The high-end crustacean is loved for its sweet, delicate meat and rich and creamy innards, or kani miso. At one of the world's largest wholesale markets, an expert shows us what to look out for in terms of quality. Also join cage fishers in Hokkaido Prefecture during chilly morning hours. After the treasure hunt at the sea, taste the prized horsehair crab in local dishes, and venture back to Tokyo to see how it's used in international cuisine. (Reporter: Kyle Card)

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.

Bean sprouts are harvested all year and have long been a favorite addition to a healthy diet. All they need is water to grow, so during a food shortage, harsh temperatures, or even after disasters like the Great East Japan Earthquake, bean sprouts are here to save the day. Our reporter, Kyle, visits a farm in Aomori Prefecture that cultivates 40-centimenter-long bean sprouts using hot spring water. Also, feast your eyes on local dishes featuring the produce. (Reporter: Kyle Card)

Seri, in season from winter to spring, was a key source of nutrition during harsh winters when produce was scarce. It grows in cold, mineral-rich water, giving it a delectable crunch and aroma. Join our reporter in muddy, flooded paddies for a harvest experience and check out a local dish that took on an iconic role in post-earthquake recovery. Also visit TOKYO SKYTREE for seri Italian dishes that are truly inspired. (Reporter: Kyle Card)

Japanese strawberries are known for their large size and sweet flavor, and are mainly eaten fresh. We visit Tochigi Prefecture, Japan’s largest production site, home to a farm popular with sightseers where you can eat strawberries to your heart’s content! We also check out a unique strawberry research center where thousands of strawberries are carefully selected to create brand-new varieties. Plus, we discover some unique strawberry-themed Japanese sweets!

The hoya, or sea pineapple, is one of the ocean's hidden delicacies. Protected by a hard shell, the marine animal's meat offers a wide range of flavors, including rich umami. In Miyagi Prefecture, hoya aquaculture has come a long way since the devastating tsunami that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Feast your eyes on an array of dishes featuring the edible ascidian, and discover how a restaurant in Tokyo is breathing new life into French cuisine. (Reporter: Janni Olsson)

Today we focus on aji, or horse mackerel, one of Japan's most popular types of fish due to it being both delicious and economical. Seki-aji is a rare fish caught in the tides of the narrow straits of Kyushu known for its outstanding umami. Experienced fishermen must read the tide and rely on their intuition. Our reporter goes out to fish with one such expert, and also visits a high-class sushi restaurant to learn about aji sushi preparation methods that vary according to fish size.