There are three main foods found at virtually every Japanese meal: rice, soup, and pickle.

Rice: most Japanese use a rice cooker. This not only cooks the rice perfectly every time, but it can keep rice warm and ready for the whole day. The Japanese have rice for breakfast, lunch and supper. In a traditional Japanese supper, rice is eaten near the end, with pickle, right before dessert. A Japanese friend of mine, JoAnn Mowdy, says the best Japanese rice is called Nishiki and the best Japanese soy sauce is the Kikkoman brand. There are many different kinds and flavors of rice, so choose wisely.

Soup: the favorite soup of Japan is Miso, and another is called Clear Soup. There are two kinds of Miso, White Miso (eaten in winter) and Red Miso (stronger-flavored, eaten in summer). To make miso you simply buy the miso paste from the health food or asian store. The simple directions are on the package, but it's basically just heating up the water, adding a few Tablespoons of miso, then adding various tiny bits of garnish (green onion, nori, tofu, etc.). It is quick and easy to make. The recipe for Clear Soup is a little more involved, and will follow later.

Pickle: Most of us are familiar with the pickled ginger given with sushi, to clean the palate. Several kinds of Japanese pickle are eaten with rice near the end of a traditional supper, and is considered the most important part; a digestive. Some Japanese also start the day with a nibble of extremely-sour umeboshi, pickled plum. Pickles can be bought all ready: several favorites are daikon, cucumber, miniature eggplant, melon and, of course, ginger as well as plum.

Eating Japanese: for the serious student, try to get a rice cooker if you don't already have one. Get the Nishiki Japanese rice, some miso paste, and at least one jar of Japanese pickle of your choice.